HOUSTON –
More than 30 people were injured Wednesday afternoon when a METRO bus collided with a metal overhead traffic sign.
The accident happened just before 1:30 p.m. in the 2200 block of Runnels at Chartres.
Witnesses say a black pickup ran a stop sign on Runnels, the bus tried to avoid it and then swerved into the sign. “It was just chaotic, like everyone was running for cover, people were trying to get people off the bus and you could hear sirens everywhere,” said Massa Mohawk, who was riding his bike near the scene when the crash happened.
Officials said 32 people were hurt. Twenty-eight were taken to a hospital, one in serious condition. “I was on the floor and didn’t know what was going on, so I got up and found I had a gash on my head,” said Jack Posey, a passenger on the bus.
Crews had to extricate the bus driver, who was trapped. Officials said she is in stable condition.
The Houston Fire Department deployed its mass-casualty transport bus and immediately started treating victims at the scene.
METRO Police investigators are now trying to determine the exact cause of the accident.
As of 6 p.m. Wednesday, the entrance ramp to I-10 near Runnels Street remained closed.