Duluth, Minnesota -- One person was killed early Tuesday morning when two Duluth Transit Authority buses collided in the downtown area. The fatal crash happened at around 5:05 a.m. on the 400 block of West Superior Street.
According to the Duluth News Tribune, the accident happened when a bus traveling eastbound collided with a stop sign and a traffic signal at the corner of Superior Street and Fifth Avenue. The out-of-control bus then crossed the centerline, careened into a concrete median and was hit by another bus.
At this time, it is unclear whether the deceased victim was a passenger on one of the buses or a pedestrian. Authorities estimate that there were between 15 and 20 people on both buses at the time of the accident.
Passengers said they felt lucky to be alive in the aftermath of the crash. They were forced to squeeze out of the vehicles as diesel fuel leaked onto the pavement. Many were taken to area hospitals for treatment.
An official with DTA told the media that both drivers were senior drivers. One has a 30-year record of clean driving and the other is not far behind.
Tuesday morning’s crash is still under investigation.
