Eight passengers and a bus driver were injured after an MTA bus plunged from an overpass, leaving the articulated bus dangling over an expressway in the Bronx on Thursday, January 14th at around 11:00 pm. The accident happened as the bus was on the University Avenue overpass above the Cross Bronx Express Way. According to initial investigation, speed was a factor in causing the bus driver to lose control as he made the turn to get on the overpass. The safe speed for such a large bus should be about 3 to 4 mph, whereas the driver of this bus was speeding between 17 to 26 mph. The driver’s reckless speed caused him to lose control of the bus, tearing through a metal gate and plunging 50 feet over the overpass. The accordion bus was left dangling from the overpass with its nose one the expressway below.
The driver, identified as 55 year old Everton Beccan, was able to get himself and help the passengers out of the bus. The bus driver suffered injury to his jaw, leg and knee. The other 8 passengers on the bus also suffered serious injuries. They were all transported to the hospital.
Beccan had been driving for the MTA for the last 11 years without prior accidents. MTA Interim Transit President Sarah Feinberg confirmed that he submitted and passed a breathalyzer test but had refused to provide urine for the FTA-mandated and MTA-mandated drug and alcohol test. Beccan has been suspended without pay pending internal investigations.
Steps to Take After a Bus Accident
Bus accidents are generally far worse than a typical fender bender. Since there are multiple passengers on a bus without seatbelts, the likelihood of injuries is greatly increased. So what happens when you have been injured in a bus accident, whether as a passenger or another motorist? Below are some important steps you should take to protect your legal rights:
- Immediately seek medical care and treatment.
- Report the accident to the police and your insurance carrier (if you were a motorist involved in the crash) and talk to witnesses.
- Gather as much evidence as possible, including taking pictures of the scene of the accident and getting information of the bus involved in the accident.
- Keep a record of all damages and your injuries, such as collecting all receipts, bills and medical records.
- Contact an experienced New York City bus accident attorney.
Contact Our New York Bus Accident Attorneys
If you have been injured or have lost a loved one in a bus accident in New York City, you need to immediately contact an experienced New York City bus accident attorney to protect your legal rights and get you the full compensation that you deserve. For more information or to consult with our legal team, please call Gersowitz Libo & Korek, P.C. at 212-385-4410.
