The victims, all men in their 30s or 40s, were preparing their buckets and receiving their assignments for the day when the bus struck them at corner of Third Avenue and East 85th Street.
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They sustained serious but non life-threatening injuries. Another worker was able to jump out of the way and wasn't hurt.
"I didn't hear it, nor did I see it," Darren Patterson said. "When I turned around, it was there, and I ran."
The bus driver remained at the scene and was issued a summons for failure to yield to pedestrians.
The driver told the workers his brakes failed, and he couldn't stop.
"Accidents happen, and you are in shock," Patterson said. "I was shocked, but when I seen that bus, I ran...I was quick on my feet. I was quick on my feet because I didn't want to get hurt."
One of the workers was upset that the driver was able to leave the scene without taking a Breathalyzer test.
No students were on board the bus at the time of the accident.
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The Doe Fund is a non-profit organization helping formerly homeless men and women in New York City.