BALTIMORE — Baltimore Police, MTA Police, and Baltimore City Fire responded to a massive bus crash that injured 17 people in downtown Baltimore on Saturday.
According to authorities, around 10:20 a.m., officers responded to the 400 block of North Paca Street for a crash involving a Mass Transit bus and two civilian vehicles.
A preliminary investigation revealed that the MTA bus struck a Lexus at the intersection of North Paca Street and West Mulberry Street. The bus then struck a Nissan and finally stopped when it crashed into a building in the 500 block of West Franklin Street.
Andy, a resident who lives in the area, heard the crash from inside his house. He says that accidents in this neighborhood have been going on for years.
"In the four years we've been here, I have lost count of the number of accidents, having to watch people getting taken out of cars by passersby," Andy continued. "Today is the most gruesome and overwhelming scene we've seen yet."
"There is a lot of racing that goes on in the neighborhood. I hear it," said another resident, Mandy. "So it's concerning because you know eventually someone is going to get really hurt."
Rose Weaver was getting her hair done when she and other customers heard a large boom that she describes as sounding like an explosion.
"I just hope and pray that those people that were on the bus...that there weren't too many serious injuries because that accident was horrific," said Weaver.
Five patients were taken to the R. Adams Cowley Shock Trauma Center; four patients were taken to the University of Maryland Medical Center Downtown Campus Emergency Department; and three patients were taken to the UMMC Midtown Campus Emergency Department.
Two of the injuries are possibly life-threatening.
"I would like not to have Mulberry be a main throughway exit to the highway because it could really change the character of what I think otherwise could develop into a nice residential neighborhood," said Mandy.
The MTA Police are investigating the crash.
