Driver Of MTA Bus That Crashed Off Overpass Refuses Drug Test

WASHINGTON HEIGHTS, NY — The driver operating a New York City tandem bus that crashed over an overpass on its way to Washington Heights refused to take a drug and alcohol after arriving at a hospital.

The refusal is a violation of Metropolitan Transit Authority (MTA) rules.

An MTA investigation found that the Bx35 bus was traveling between 17 and 26 mph Thursday night on University Avenue when it arrived at the turn onto the ramp leading to the Cross Bronx Expressway. However, the bus passed the ramp and made the turn into a guard rail around 10 feet later, which sent the front side of the bus flying off the overpass.

According to MTA rules, the "appropriate speed for taking that turn" in a tandem bus is three to five mph, which means that the driver was at least 12 mph above the speed suggestion.

The driver is an 11-year NYC transit veteran with a clean safety and service record, according to the MTA. Firefighters and NYPD officers told the MTA that the driver helped evacuate passengers, despite his own injuries.

After passengers got evacuated, the driver was taken to the hospital for injuries to his jaw, where he subsequently refused to take the MTA-administered drug and alcohol test.

Additionally, the bus was inspected on Thursday, where it was found to have no mechanical issues.

“This is obviously a terrible tragedy and our heart goes out to the passengers on the bus and their families who had to go through this,” said Patrick Warren, MTA Chief Safety and Security Officer, in a news release. “We will continue to provide any support we can to them. I want to thank the NYPD and FDNY for their swift action in this case; we will continue to investigate this incident fully to ensure this does not happen again.”

The investigation into the bus accident remains ongoing.

Read More: NYC Bus Crashes Off Overpass En Route To Washington Heights: Pics