One Critically Injured in Crash with Port Authority Bus on 5th Ave in Pittsburgh, PA
Pittsburgh, PA -- May 19, 2022, several people were injured in a fiery crash involving a Port Authority transit bus in downtown Pittsburgh.
Authorities say the incident happened around 11:30 p.m. at the intersection of 5th Avenue and Grant Street. The circumstances of the collision aren't yet known, but reports indicate a passenger vehicle and a city bus collided in the crossroads. The car then caught fire and became engulfed.
Police officers in the area saw the burning car and rescued the driver. He was then taken to an area hospital in critical condition. Four bus passengers were also taken to hospitals for treatment of non-life-threatening injuries.
The investigation continues. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Port Authority Bus Accident on 5th St in Pittsburgh
It's possible the lack of information here is just authorities being prudent about what they release until they have more to go on. However, it could also be a genuine reflection of their cluelessness about what went down. I've handled just about every kind of accident one could imagine over the years, and in that time I've seen a staggering number of cases where investigating authorities omitted or overlooked critical information in their reports. Most of the time they're neck-deep in other priorities and don't have the resources they need to do a thorough job, and their reluctance to dig too deep into a municipal vehicle crash is pretty well known. When a city transit bus is involved in a crash police reports tend to skew to blaming the other person without investing much time to be sure.
Even experienced, skilled officers with a genuine desire to get answers and a sense of impartiality can only do so much after a crash like this. That's one of the reasons I work with independent investigators after such accidents. From mechanical issues to cell phone usage to hazardous road design, they help to ensure that all possible factors get the attention they deserve. Will that kind of care be taken here to ensure the whole truth is learned?
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