:wtf:
I've heard of vehicles crashing into public transit busses before. But a public transit bus crashing into a building? I'm sure this isn't the first time such a thing happened though.

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Bus crashes thru building -- shuts down Central Ave. in St. Pete

St. Petersburg, Florida - St. Pete Police and Fire Rescue are responding to a bus crash at the intersection of Central Ave. and 32nd St. N.

Police say a Pinellas Suncoast Transit Authority bus turned out of the terminal and crashed into two cars, a tree, and finally the front of a building.

A witness told us that the Amscot store had all of the glass shattered in the front of the store.

Authorities now say the majority of the injuries are not serious, however, it appears that one pedestrian was hit.

Tampa Bay's 10 News as crews enroute and we will updating this story as soon as the information becomes available.

PSTA bus crashes into St. Pete building
Wednesday, September 12, 2007
Bay News 9

http://www.baynews9.com/images/news/2007/9/12/amscotcrash.jpg

ST. PETERSBURG (Bay News 9) -- A PSTA bus lost control and crashed into a building in downtown St. Petersburg Wednesday morning just before 9 a.m.

St. Petersburg police reported the bus came out of the bus depot on Central Avenue and hit a tree and several parked cars and power lines before hitting the Amscot building.

Three people on the bus were injured, in addition to three people on the ground injured. None of the injuries were considered serious.

Early reports indicated the bus driver, 37-year-old Travis Merriex, may have had a seizure but paramedics later said he was alert and had said the bus had suffered a mechanical failure.

http://www.baynews9.com/content/36/2007/9/12/287186.html?title=PSTA+bus+crashes+into+St.+Pete+building

That is ummm interesting sorry for the people who were hurt.

Crazy...

^^
what's even more crazy was that mechanical failure may not have been the cause. But rather that the driver may have been under the influence of medications. FOX 13 has the story on their website. I mean, another PSTA driver was able to back the bus out of the building and get it on its way to the garage.

I'm glad this incident didn't end up worse than it could have. I pray for those who were injured.

The driver who crashed the bus has tested positive for 3 painkillers. He was charged for DUI and has since been fired by PSTA.

PSTA driver charged with felony DUI in crash

ST. PETERSBURG -- A PSTA bus driver who ran off Central Avenue before crashing into other cars and an Amscot check-cashing business last month has been charged with felony DUI, police said.

Travis Merriex, 37, was charged after a sample drawn after the tested positive for three prescription : Methadone, Alprazolam and Lorazepam, police said. The occurred in the 3200 block of Central Avenue.

Merriex was fired by the PSTA on Sept. 20. He was arrested this morning on charges of felony DUI and careless driving.

http://blogs.tampabay.com/breakingnews/2007/10/psta-driver-cha.html