8 injured after MTA bus goes over rail, dangles over Cross Bronx Expressway
MORRIS HEIGHTS, Bronx (WABC) -- Officials say a MTA bus driver was "traveling at a high rate of speed" when his articulated bus careened off a Bronx overpass Thursday night.
Eight people were hurt in the terrifying incident, which happened around 11:10 p.m. Thursday.
The MTA said the GPS revealed the bus appeared to be traveling at 17-26 mph during the incident.
"We know the speed limit on the road is 25 mph, but the appropriate speed for taking a turn such as this is between 3 and 4 miles per hour," MTA Chief Safety Officer Pat Warren said. "So we can say at this time while the investigation is ongoing, speed is clearly a factor and is obviously of great concern to us."
Authorities say 55-year-old driver Everton Beccan was on his regular route when he attempted to turn left off University Avenue onto a ramp to the Washington Bridge and the Bx35 bus suddenly veered off the road.
The FDNY said the bus fell approximately 50 feet onto the access road below, and half of the vehicle was left hanging off University Avenue feet from the Cross Bronx Expressway below.
The driver went through the bus to check on the seven passengers, who were all subsequently rescued and taken to the hospital. All are expected to survive, although one of the passengers was more seriously injured than the others.
Officials say the bus operator suffered bruises, cuts, body pains and a broken jaw.
Eyewitness News reporter NJ Burkett first learned exclusively that the bus operator refused an MTA-administered drug test, according to transit sources.
"We have been informed by the police that the bus operator passed a breath test at the scene, however upon arrival at the hospital, the bus operator refused to take an MTA mandated drug and alcohol test," Warren said. "This is obviously troubling. The investigation is ongoing."
Beccan, an 11-year NYC Transit veteran, had a clean safety and service record prior to the incident, according to officials.
ALSO READ: Drivers rescued from cars after water main break floods Cross Bronx Expressway
The articulated bus is made up of two sections, with an accordion section connected by cables. When the bus left the roadway, it was suspended by the cables, which suspended the front section in air.
"The bus was a 2017 new flyer, compressed natural gas bus, an articulated bus coming out of West Farms Depot that was inspected last on Jan. 13 with no mechanical issues." MTA Bus Company President Craig Cipriano said.
Several large cranes were deployed to lift the bus off the expressway. After more than five hours, FDNY crews were able to lift it up and pull it back from the overpass just before 6:30 a.m.
It has been towed to an MTA yard for further investigation.
The bus contains a black box that will help the MTA determine what happened, as well as cameras and passenger counters that collect information.
"The MTA's goal is to have the safest transportation system in the nation, and when an incident like this occurs we take it very seriously," MTA Chief Safety and Security Officer Patrick Warren said. "We are conducting a full investigation and will implement lessons learned in order to prevent it from happening again. We are certain this was a terrifying incident for those customers on the bus. Our hearts go out to them with hope that they can recover quickly."
The Bx35 bus was headed to 178th Street and Broadway in Washington Heights at the time of the crash.
MORE NEWS | Manhattan's Vessel closes indefinitely due to string of suicides
----------
* Download the abc7NY app for breaking news alerts
Submit a News Tip
