Bus Driver Who Crashed On Nicollet Mall, Died, Identified
MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) – Authorities have identified a Metro Transit bus driver who had a medical event while driving in downtown Minneapolis, crashed the bus on Nicollet Mall and died.
The crash happened at about 10:10 a.m. Friday on Nicollet Mall between 10th Street and 11th Street. Witnesses said the bus drove up on the mall's sidewalk across from the Dakota Jazz Club. It ran over garbage cans, smashed into light posts and scraped against buildings and destroyed the metal awning over the mall studio of WCCO Television.
The Hennepin County Medical Examiner identified the driver Sunday as 58-year-old John Lamaitre Senior Jr. of Edina. He suffered a sudden collapse while driving due to natural causes.
WCCO-TV's own Mike Augustyniak was walking on Nicollet Mall when the bus crashed and narrowly missed being hit. A bicyclist near him was sideswiped.
The bus came to a stop near Peavey Plaza.