CTA Bus Crashes Into South Side Home
By ANDREW GREINER
Updated 4:47 PM CST, Tue, Nov 10, 2009
A Chicago Transit Authority bus crashed into a home on the city’s south side this morning, injuring four people including one 7-year-old passenger, cops said.
The impact left a gaping hole on one side of the house and a major crack on the other. Crews worked for nearly two hours to remove the bus from the side of the home, located at at 115 Street and Vincennes Avenue.
A demolition crew was planning on tearing the house down after city officials deemed it unsafe, said Bill McCaffrey, a spokesman for the city's Building Department.
There were about six people in the home at the time of the crash, but none of them were injured, according to Chicago Breaking News.
"We're fine. That's all. Thank God that we fine," said LaSharon Smith, who lives in the home with her four sons.
The 111 Pullman/111th/115th bus was traveling south on Vincennes when it hit the south side of the house, said CTA spokeswoman Kim Myles. Neighbors say it's not the first time the Morgan Park home has been hit by a vehicle, and buses have been known to take the corner too fast.
"We don't know what caused the operator to lose control of the bus. We haven't had an opportunity yet to really interview her. She was taken to the hospital and we'll be talking to her when she's available," said CTA spokeswoman Noelle Gaffney.
CTA President Richard Rodriguez said the driver will be tested for drugs and alcohol, which is standard in that type of incident. He said he hopes surveillance camera from inside the bus will help explain what happened, and he said the agency is working with Chicago police to see if there are any security cameras in the neighborhood.
The bus driver was taken to Metro South Hospital, and the passengers -- a 22-year-old man, a 24-year-old woman, and the woman's 7-year-old niece -- were taken to Roseland Hospital. None of the injuries were life-threatening.
First Published: Nov 10, 2009 6:48 AM CST
You Might Like
You have 2000 characters left
