Miami-Dade Bus Slams Into Allapattah Store, Injuring Dozens of Passengers

TV cameras from around the nation are focused on a green-and-orange-painted appliance store in Allapattah this morning. More specific, they're broadcasting pictures of the Miami-Dade bus lodged in the front of the business. Just after 6:30 this morning, the bus collided with an SUV and then slammed into the building,...

By Tim Elfrink

February 26, 2015

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TV cameras from around the nation are focused on a green-and-orange-painted appliance store in Allapattah this morning. More specific, they're broadcasting pictures of the Miami-Dade bus lodged in the front of the business.

Just after 6:30 this morning, the bus collided with an SUV and then slammed into the building, injuring 24 passengers, including kids headed to Jackson High School, a Miami Fire Rescue spokesman tells New Times.

The bus was full of early-morning riders as it traveled west on NW 36th Street, says Capt. Ignatius "Iggy" Carrol, a Miami Fire spokesman.

An SUV headed southbound on NW 15th Avenue somehow ended up in its path, and both vehicles swerved into the South Florida Store Fixtures Warehouse at the corner, Carroll says.

Paramedics and firefighters rushed to the scene, where the driver and 24 passengers were injured.

"We had students from Miami Jackson High School along with adults and elderly passengers," Carroll says.

Most of the injured were "walking wounded," Carroll says, who will likely be treated at and released from local hospitals. But the bus driver had to be rescued from the bus using heavy equipment and was transported to Ryder Trauma Center at Jackson Memorial Hospital.

NOW: Bus into building in Miami, Florida. Unknown injuries. Watch #ABC15 Mornings for updates. pic.twitter.com/IcV3iuutyN
— Rudy Rivas (@RudyABC15) February 26, 2015

#BreakingNews Injured people being rushed to hospital now after bus crash this morning in #Miami @nbc6 pic.twitter.com/2wIfepSIza ttp://twtd.by
— Breaking Miami News (@breakingnewsmia) February 26, 2015

Carroll confirmed to New Times that the SUV's driver was arrested at the scene. MDPD is expected to announce details of the charges later this morning:

#BreakingNews Police just cuffed a man in bus accident scene, we're #live in Miami off NW 36 St/15 Ave @WPLGLocal10 pic.twitter.com/fzaZJK9SXJ
— Ben Kennedy (@BenKennedyTV) February 26, 2015

In the meantime, commuters should avoid NW 36th Street at 15th Avenue and really the entire area around the Allapattah Metrorail station if at all possible.

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Tim Elfrink is a former investigative reporter and managing editor for Miami New Times. He has won the George Polk Award and was a finalist for the Goldsmith Prize for Investigative Reporting.

Contact: Tim Elfrink

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Twitter: @timelfrinkmia