More Than 20 Injured After Center City SEPTA Bus Accident
By Mike Dougherty
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- At least six people were taken away on stretchers and about a dozen more taken to the hospital to be checked out after a multi-vehicle crash in Center City involving a SEPTA bus.
A preliminary investigation reveals the driver of a white Mazda ran a red light and crashed into the bus at 11th and Vine, knocking the driver out of his seat. The bus then struck three parked vehicles. It also sent a street light flying about 75 feet down the block before a courageous passenger ended the wild ride.
"And [it] slammed into the wall and kept going. Some lady had to jump out of her seat and go and stop the bus because he was out of it after that," one person said. "The lady that was driving this white car, she was in the wrong all the way."
SEPTA says 22 non-life threatening injuries were reported. Twenty people from the bus and two from the striking vehicle were taken to various hospitals.
The bus driver is also being treated for non life-threatening injuries at Hahnemann University Hospital.
Passengers say it's amazing nobody died, and the people KYW Newsradio spoke with feel lucky to walk away from this with just bumps and bruises.
"It was scary as hell. It was really scary. Your life really does flash before your eyes. I'm just happy nobody died."
SEPTA is currently downloading surveillance video from the scene, which isn't expected to be released until Monday.
An investigation is ongoing.
