County Bus Hits, Kills 72-Year-Old Woman In Downtown Miami

MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A 72-year-old woman was hit and killed by a bus while crossing the street in Downtown Miami.

It happened Monday morning at the intersection of SW 1 Street and SW 2 Avenue.

Investigators are still working to piece everything together. They say the woman was walking in the crosswalk as the bus was making a left hand turn on to SW 1 Street.  That’s when she was hit the Metro Dade transit bus.

“It is upsetting it is heartbreaking.  No one should have to die like this,” said Alieen Campbell, who lives in Downtown Miami.

“We don’t know if she was going to work or if she lives in the area. We haven’t been able to talk to coworkers or family members,” said Alvaro Zabaleta of the Miami-Dade Police Department.

CBS4’s Ahsley Dyer saw plenty of transit buses traveling through the area on Monday.  One bus stop is just feet ahead of where the crash happened.  People who live nearby say it’s likely that’s where the driver was heading.

“This is a hot spot. There are a lot of cars that pass by,” said Campbell.

Miami-Dade police have interviewed at least one witness.  They plan to utilize surveillance cameras to help determine what led to the collision.

“The investigation now is going to continue to determine green light, to determine cross walk signs etc. to see if in fact who had the right of way,” said Zabaleta.

Campbell lives a block away and worries something like this is bound to happen again with so many people living alongside the busy street.

Police are urging drivers and pedestrians to pay attention to your surroundings.

“A lot of traffic as you can see behind us.  There is a lot of movement going on.  We urge not only drivers but pedestrians – a lot of them tend to walk looking at their cellphones while crossing the street.  Not paying attention to your left and your right.  It could become very dangerous,” explained Zabaleta.

No charges have been filed against the bus driver as of now, but police say the investigation is still ongoing.  At this time, the identity of the woman is not being released.