DOWNTOWN HOUSTON -
There were tense moments in downtown Houston when a bus and train crashed into each other Monday afternoon around 3:30. Strangely, both the bus and train belong to the Metro system.
Metro officials said the bus is at fault for running a red light at Main Street while headed west on St. Joseph Parkway.
Nine people, including the bus driver, were hurt bad enough they had to take an ambulance ride to the hospital.
"I'm thankful. I'm lucky I'm just happy to have my life," said passenger Tramaine Coleman, who wasn't hurt.
The bus and train were carrying about 20 people combined. Even though some didn't have to go to the hospital, several of those people still complained of pain after the crash.
"My neck jerked back and [a metal bar] hit my side of my spine on my back," said passenger Jay Ellison. "It just kind of, like, made me black out a bit. I don't remember much."
"I got a migraine headache, a really bad migraine headache," said passenger Mallory Blylock.
This is the first time a Metro train and Metro bus have crashed into each other. Even more ironic, the two collided right in front of Metro headquarters.
"This is a very unusual instance. Our safety record on the whole is very very good," said Metro spokesperson Raequel Roberts.
Metro knows the bus driver ran a red light, but not why. Officials also are not sure what charges can or will be filed in this situation.
"We take it very seriously. We're going to be doing a thorough investigation of it. We've got cameras on the train and we're going to look at those very very closely and we'll be interviewing those involved and finding out exactly what happened," said Roberts.
The only good part is what didn't happen. No one had life-threatening injuries.
Metro service was never cut off, instead simply detoured.
The bus driver who caused the crash has been a Metro employee since March 2000. Officials didn't have his safety record readily available Monday after the crash.
Metro officials said the bus is at fault for running a red light at Main Street while headed west on St. Joseph Parkway.
Nine people, including the bus driver, were hurt bad enough they had to take an ambulance ride to the hospital.
"I'm thankful. I'm lucky I'm just happy to have my life," said passenger Tramaine Coleman, who wasn't hurt.
The bus and train were carrying about 20 people combined. Even though some didn't have to go to the hospital, several of those people still complained of pain after the crash.
"My neck jerked back and [a metal bar] hit my side of my spine on my back," said passenger Jay Ellison. "It just kind of, like, made me black out a bit. I don't remember much."
"I got a migraine headache, a really bad migraine headache," said passenger Mallory Blylock.
This is the first time a Metro train and Metro bus have crashed into each other. Even more ironic, the two collided right in front of Metro headquarters.
"This is a very unusual instance. Our safety record on the whole is very very good," said Metro spokesperson Raequel Roberts.
Metro knows the bus driver ran a red light, but not why. Officials also are not sure what charges can or will be filed in this situation.
"We take it very seriously. We're going to be doing a thorough investigation of it. We've got cameras on the train and we're going to look at those very very closely and we'll be interviewing those involved and finding out exactly what happened," said Roberts.
The only good part is what didn't happen. No one had life-threatening injuries.
Metro service was never cut off, instead simply detoured.
The bus driver who caused the crash has been a Metro employee since March 2000. Officials didn't have his safety record readily available Monday after the crash.
