SEATTLE — Eight bus passengers were injured Tuesday night in an accident involving a construction crane on the westbound 520 Bridge.
The incident happened east of Lake Washington Boulevard just after 10 p.m.
The Washington State Department of Transportation says a pipe came loose from a load the crane was lifting. According to troopers, the pipe hit the bus first and then struck the overhead sign, causing the sign to crash onto the bus.
There was shattered glass and mangled metal. The bus driver managed to stop.
Fire officials told KIRO 7 that 20 people were on the bus. Eight people were evaluated by firefighters and were taken to area hospitals with injuries, most had minor injuries. According to the State Patrol, one bus passenger was pinned, either underneath the metal piling or some of the wreckage. That passenger had to be extricated by firefighters and had a significant leg injury. One woman was still in serious condition recovering Wednesday at Harborview Medical Center.
KIRO 7 talked to a witness who was driving 100 yards back and saw the accident.
"I saw the crane with the big pipe hit the overpass and it fell right in front of us. I was one car behind," said witness Sonny Barenz.
Barenz said he jumped the median to help the passengers.
All lanes in both directions of the 520 Bridge were shut down until about 4:50 a.m. Wednesday.
Passenger Ben Zee sent this statement to KIRO 7 Reporter Alison Grande:
"I was sitting toward the back of the bus, there were some screams and a loud crash as the impact occurred. I managed to get out unassisted through the emergency exit. I received a 2mm cut on the top of my head from a steel handrail which came loose and passed through the back if the bus. I treated my own injury and rendered assistance to those who were hurt; I watched over a two people who had received blunt force trauma and lacerations respecitvely. I did what I could to keep them calm until the arrival of the first responders. The police, fire fighters, and EMT arrived in good time and were efficient, professional, and polite in their assistance and treatment of the patients.
"In regard to the driver, he did well to spot the oncoming debris and slowed the bus significantly. Additionally, he seemed unharmed and was able to exit the bus and provide aid, despite the entire driver's area being crushed.
"I feel that all of the passengers involved did well to assist one another and communicate with emergency services. Although an unfortunate event, it could have ended much worse than it did."
KIRO
