New York – A Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) bus crashed off the side of a highway overpass after it jumped the curb and fell over the side of the roadway. Police and federal transit investigators are still evaluating the bus accident but some are expressing significant concern regarding the cause of the collision. What is currently known about the bus collision is that the driver was making a turn on a highway ramp while driving an extended accordion bus. While navigating the turn, possibly faster than should be attempted safely by such a long and heavy vehicle, the bus lost control and hit a low metal fence that served as a guard rail on the ramp. The speed and force of the crash caused the bus to break through the guard rail and begin a steep fall to the roadway below. Interestingly, the rear section of the bus remained on the road above while the front section fell nose first to the road below. Images from the scene show the remarkable stop that the bus made just before completely crashing onto the highway below. However, the bus driver and multiple passengers inside the commuter bus suffered extensive accident injuries. The driver reportedly suffered facial injuries and possible head injury in addition to neck and back pain. Passengers were noted to have suffered both initial crash injuries as well as fall injury wounds after they were thrown from their seats and fell to the ground or floor. All of the accident victims were rushed to the emergency department of nearby hospitals for treatment. Common and expected injuries from this type of accident include traumatic brain injury (TBI) spinal injuries, broken bones or fractures, internal bleeding as well as others.

MTA investigators, police, fire and federal officials were then tasked with determining the cause of the accident. Reports show that the driver passed an alcohol and possibly drug test after the horrific motor vehicle accident (MVA). However, questions have arisen about the speed of the bus and whether or not speeding was a factor in the collision. It has been pointed out that the bus may have been travelling within the posted speed limit for that section of road. However, the extended length, height and weight of the bus require a slower and more cautious speed in order to safely execute such a turn. Further investigation is underway to determine whether or not due caution was exercised by the driver in addition to examination of the mechanical functioning of the commercial vehicle. You can read more and see video of the bus crash scene here.

Image for illustrative purposes only. Video capture credit: Skyler Fire