1 Dead, Several Injured Following SEPTA Bus Crash In West Oak Lane Neighborhood
By Elizabeth Hur
PHILADELPHIA (CBS) -- The Monday evening rush hour came to a violent end as a car and a SEPTA bus were involved in a head-on collision.
One person died. Twelve others were injured.
It happened at about 6 p.m. Monday at the intersection of Old York Road and Sparks Street in Philadelphia's West Oak Lane neighborhood.
PHOTOS: From The Scene
According to police, a 31-year-old woman was driving an Acura that hit the SEPTA bus. Her 58-year-old aunt was in the passenger seat and was killed in the crash. While it is early in the investigation, police suspect the 31-year-old may have been drunk when, for some reason, she lost control of her car, veered into the oncoming lane and hit the Route 55 bus.
Chief Inspector Scott Small with the Philadelphia Police Department explained, "Based on skid marks, we can tell it lost control. The initial information they have is that there was a strong odor of alcohol coming from the Acura. It also had open containers of alcohol inside of the vehicle."
Police say no one inside the Acura was wearing seat belts. Investigators are now awaiting blood test results to confirm their suspicion.
As of late Monday night, the 31-year-old was listed in extremely critical condition with broken bones and severe internal injuries.
Meanwhile, police tell Eyewitness News, 55 people were onboard the bus at the time of the collision. Of those, 11 people were injured and transported to area hospitals. They are said to be nursing bumps and bruises.
The identity of the 58-year-old victim was not immediately known.
Authorities say they will be looking at surveillance video from the SEPTA bus to help in their ongoing investigation.
