Fatal wreck: Car overturns after slamming into school bus



MILWAUKEE (WITI) -- A 40-year-old man died after a collision between his car and a school bus at 60th and Villard in Milwaukee on Friday afternoon, April 25th.

According to police, the car the victim was driving was headed northbound on 60th St. at a high rate of speed around 2 p.m. Officials say the driver failed to stop at a traffic signal, crossed the center lane, struck a light pole before hitting a school bus, clipping another car and flipping over. The driver suffered fatal injuries.

“He flew up in the air and came down on the school bus, when he came down on the school bus he came down on the back of the car," said Nefetare Thomas, eyewitness.

The only person on the school bus was the 68-year-old driver. He was taken to a hospital for treatment.

Panicked that little kids were on the school bus, person after person said they sprinted to the scene to help. Carl Pittelkow didn't even waste time putting on shoes.

“I’m in my socks, I’m running up and down the street, you know, back and forth. I ran out like I said and put a traffic cone out here,” said Pittelkow.

There were no children on the school bus, but there's still no happy ending to this story.

It's unknown how fast the driver was going, but eyewitnesses say he had to be doing between 75-mph and 85-mph.

Pittelkow was among those who tried to get the driver out of the car, but says it was too late.

"My wife was there and she felt for a pulse after a guy busted the window and she’s like there’s no pulse,” said Pittelkow.

Pittelkow's wife also says she'll never forget the mans face.

An accident reconstruction team was called to the scene to investigate this crash. Officials are not releasing the driver's name yet, pending notification of the family.