A bus accident left almost a dozen people injured late in the morning of Saturday, Sept. 20, 2014 in downtown Baltimore, Maryland. The crash occurred when the bus collided with a large truck, causing injury to both the driver of the bus and several of the passengers on board at the time, as well as considerable front-end damage to the bus. None of the injuries have been reported to be life-threatening, and the injured parties are being treated at an area hospital.
The bus was a Maryland Transit Administration vehicle, a commuter bus transporting people across the city. The accident occurred when a semi truck smashed into the side of the bus near the front door in front of Baltimore’s City Hall building near the intersection of Fayette Street and Guilford Avenue. Damage caused to both vehicles in the crash led to spillage of oil and other hazardous materials, which led to the closure of the roadway until clean-up efforts were completed some two to three hours after the crash took place.
The cause of the accident remains unknown at this time. Witnesses expressed concern over the accident and the possibility of others like it, stating that the downtown area in which the accident took place is a very busy, high-traffic area with a large volume of motor vehicles on the road at any given time. One witness to the crash stated that for this reason, all motorists and pedestrians must remain vigilant at all times when on the roadways.
Urban centers experience a greater number of traffic accidents than their more rural counterparts, possibly due to higher rates of traffic congestion. However, urban crashes are less frequently associated with fatalities than rural crashes. This may be due to roads being better-maintained within the city limits, and typically being less winding and meandering than rural roads, with lower speed limits.
There is no word yet as to whether charges will be filed in this crash, nor has fault been established at this time. Local police are investigating the precise cause of the accident.