An MBTA bus slammed into multiple vehicles and a utility pole at the intersection of Fellsway West and Salem Street in Medford on Thursday, ultimately coming to a stop in the front yard of a home. First responders helped the bus driver onto a stretcher at the scene, and the cause of the crash had not been determined as of Thursday afternoon.
The crash left a trail of damage along the busy corridor, according to NBC Boston, which reported that the bus collided with several parked cars before taking out a utility pole. The broken pole came to rest across the hood of an SUV, and the outlet noted it had reached out to the MBTA and transit police for more information on what caused the crash.
A Corridor With a History of Traffic Trouble
The wreck unfolded at the intersection. Fellsway West is a state road. A 2009 Boston Region Metropolitan Planning Organization study examined Route 60.
Because Fellsway West is a DCR-governed state road, official crash reports for the corridor must be filed directly with the Massachusetts State Police barracks on Fellsway in Medford, per the Medford Police Department. That jurisdictional split means both state authorities and MBTA Transit Police could ultimately play a role in reconstructing what happened.
Second Major Medford Bus Crash in Six Months
Thursday's crash is not an isolated event for the city. Just six months earlier, in March, another MBTA bus crashed into homes and parked vehicles on Playstead Road in Medford after the operator allegedly fell asleep at the wheel, an incident that prompted MBTA Transit Police to seek criminal charges, including negligent operation, as reported by Universal Hub.
That March crash came amid a sharp spike in transit safety incidents. Fifteen major MBTA bus safety events occurred that month alone, including eight bus collisions—five with vehicles, two with pedestrians and one with a home—marking a 77% year-over-year surge, according to GBH. The spike prompted MBTA leadership to launch a systemwide driver fatigue awareness campaign in the spring. GBH reported that major safety events can include deaths, injuries, property damage, evacuations and collisions.
Whether Thursday's crash involved fatigue, mechanical failure, or another factor remains unknown, and it is also unclear whether the bus originated from a bus garage.
Heightened Scrutiny of MBTA Bus Operators
The Medford crashes arrive as transit operators statewide face increasing legal exposure. In March, reports described a fatal Hyde Park crash that killed a 5-year-old and involved a former Boston school bus driver employed by Transdev.
Adding to the regulatory backdrop, the Massachusetts Department of Public Utilities announced Thursday proposed new rules aimed at modernizing transit and rail safety oversight and establishing clearer risk-based safety standards statewide, according to a state announcement. The crash underscored what is at stake for the community as investigators sort out what happened this time.
