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Jul 10, 2009 7:01 pm US/Central
1 Dead, 2 Critical After Fort Worth 'T' Bus Crash
FORT WORTH (CBS 11 / TXA 21) ―
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Texas Dept. Of Transportation
One person is dead and five others are injured after a Fort Worth 'T' bus rear-ended two cars on Northeast Loop 820.
The crash happened about 5:45 p.m. on the eastbound side of Loop 820 at Mark IV Parkway, about a quarter mile west of Interstate 35W.
In a live phone interview on CBS 11 News at 6pm, Fort Worth Transportation Authority operations manager Tony Johnson said, "It's our understanding that a vehicle stopped in front of the van. The van may have hit the other vehicles, which probably caused the vehicle to catch fire." All of the vehicles involved in the crash erupted in flames.
CBS 11 News arrived at the scene shortly after the crash and spoke with MedStar operations supervisor Jeff Popp. During the live interview Popp said, "'We've got two critical patients that have been transported to Dallas. We've got one non-critical [patient] that has been transported to a local hospital here. I've got two others that have not been transported."
The bus driver and the lone passenger escaped unhurt.
Thick black smoke from the wreck could be seen for miles.
Four vehicles were involved including a MITS bus from the T's Mobility Impaired Transportation Service. In front of it, a blue dodge pick-up truck. Paul Aker saw the accident. "Supposedly what I seen is the truck caused the accident," Aker said referring to the pick-up.
Robert Runova was another witness. "The Dodge, as it was switching lanes, the but T-boned it. It just blew up, burst into flames," Runova said.
Brandi Walter was in the vehicle behind the bus. "I just slammed on my brakes hoping i wasn't going to get hit from behind
and just feel very lucky and blessed today since I was directly behind it, I wasn't involved in it," Walter said. Today is Walter's birthday.
One of the vehicles was burned so badly, it was difficult to tell what make it was. The person who died inside never made it out the door.
Eventually two patients who were critically injured were taken to Parkland Hospital in Dallas. Two people who were non-critically injured were taken to a Fort Worth Hospital. One was treated at the scene and release.
The stretch of North East Loop 820 where the accident happened reopened late Friday evening following the accident investigation.
(© MMIX, CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.)
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