Car, MCTS bus crash in Milwaukee; 1 dead, 5 hurt
MILWAUKEE - There's a plea to be safer on the roads after a crash between a car and a bus leaves one man dead and several others injured.
It happened around midnight at 35th and Capitol in Milwaukee just after midnight on Friday, April 19.
Investigators say the driver of the car was speeding and ran a red light.
The Milwaukee County Transit System Bus was nearly split in half, and is beyond repair.
SIGN UP TODAY: Get daily headlines, breaking news emails from FOX6 News
The heavily-damaged MCTS bus.
When the damage is seen up close, it may be hard to fathom a car doing that much devastation.
"You’re really talking about a 100 mile per hour missile that struck the side of our bus," said MCTS President Denise Wandke.
The totaled Milwaukee County Transit System Bus sits parked after the overnight crash.
Investigators say around midnight, a speeding car headed west ran a red light at 35th and Capitol, colliding with the northbound bus.
FREE DOWNLOAD: Get breaking news alerts in the FOX6 News app for iOS or Android
MCTS bus crash, 35th and Capitol
"I’m feeling devastated, heartbroken and hurt," said Terrianna Edwards, the friend of the person who died in the crash.
Loved ones tell FOX6 that Brandon Lewis was behind the wheel of the car. He died on the scene.
Two passengers in the car were seriously injured.
"It’s just a lot of family hurt right now," added Edwards.
The driver of the bus and two passengers were taken to the hospital and are expected to be okay.
MCTS bus crash, 35th and Capitol
"I'm here to provide one simple message and that enough is enough," said Milwaukee County Executive David Crowley.
According to MCTS, reckless driving crashes, where cars have hit county buses, have increased by 40% in the first three months of 2024.
"This morning's reckless driving where this automobile crashed into our bus was a tragedy for all involved," added Wandke.
It's a message to slow down on the roads to prevent this from happening again.
"It’s so senseless," added Wandke.
MCTS tells FOX6 that despite his injuries, the driver of the bus hopped off after that crash with a fire extinguisher to put out the flames on the wrecked car.
FOX6 was also told the bus driver is out of the hospital tonight.