Milwaukee driver dies after running red light and hitting bus, five others in hospital
A speeding Milwaukee driver died after running a red light and hitting a Milwaukee County bus, resulting in five other people hospitalized, police said.
The accident happened at about 11:52 p.m. Thursday on the 3500 block of West Capitol Drive, as the speeding driver of a Ford vehicle traveled west on the street with two passengers, Milwaukee Police Department said in a news release. As it ran the red light, the vehicle hit a bus traveling north on 35th Street with four passengers and a driver inside.
Police said that the 34-year-old bus driver and two of its passengers, a 31-year-old and 45-year-old, were taken to a local hospital. Two more passengers, both 59, were treated at the scene of the accident.
The driver of the Ford died at the scene, police said. The two passengers were each taken to a local hospital, one 28 years old and the other 27 years old.
No age was given for the driver of the Ford and police said further information on them was pending. An investigation is ongoing.
"This morning’s reckless driving accident, where an automobile crashed into an MCTS bus, was a senseless tragedy for all involved," Denise Wandke, MCTS president and managing director, said in a statement Friday afternoon. "In my 30 years working in public transit, never have I seen such a horrible accident.
"First, I want to praise our bus operator who, despite being injured, grabbed a fire extinguisher and rushed out of the bus to put out the flames from the car. I am truly in awe of their bravery. We grieve the loss of life that occurred as a result of this accident. Our hearts go out to our bus passengers and auto occupants who were hurt. We hope those injured have a full recovery."
The Thursday night crash was the second serious accident to happen on Capitol Drive that day. That morning, about a half-mile away, a driver died after hitting a tree and rolling their vehicle near the 4200 block of West Capitol Drive.
A 2023 city report analyzing dangerous Milwaukee streets ranked Capitol Drive as the most dangerous street in the city.
"During the first three months of 2024, reckless driving accidents where cars have hit MCTS buses increased by almost 40 percent," Wandke said. "This is inflicting harm among our residents, costing taxpayers money and disrupting peace in our neighborhoods."
Editor's note: A previous version of this story incorrectly identified the number of passengers and ages, based on initial information released by the Milwaukee Police Department. The story has been updated with the new information from the police.
This article originally appeared on Milwaukee Journal Sentinel: Milwaukee driver dies after running red light and hitting bus
