RTA bus driver dies, 2 other injured after crash involving bus in University Heights

Video
Photo

A photo of a major accident involving an RTA bus at the intersection of Warrensville Center and Cedar Roads in University Heights Sunday December 16, 2012. Photo courtesy NewsChannel 5 Twitter follower @ paulljarrett .
Copyright 2012 Scripps Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.

Previous Play Next

Regular Photo Size8/8

Posted: 12/16/2012

By: Nicole DeChant, newsnet5.com

UNIVERSITY HEIGHTS, Ohio - The driver of an RTA bus was killed and two others were injured after a crash involving a bus in University Heights Sunday.

Transit police said a bus on RTA's No. 41 route collided with several vehicles at the intersection of Warrensville Center Road and Cedar Road in University Heights around 3:30 p.m.

The bus also went over a curb and struck some shrubbery and the electrical box control unit for the traffic signals at the intersection. Police are expecting the traffic signals will remain out through rush hour Monday morning.

The bus was traveling northbound on Warrensville Center Road.

EMS units from University Heights and South Euclid transported the operator and two automobile passengers to Hillcrest Hospital in Mayfield Heights. University Heights police said the driver of the bus, 53-year-old Christopher Battle, later died at the hospital.

The extent of the injuries of the other two people hurt is not known at this time.

Only the northbound lane on Warrensville Center Road is open to traffic, with a right turn only onto Cedar Road eastbound. Traffic in all other directions is being re-routed.

Ronnell Smith, a cook at the nearby Applebee's, who was on break at the time, witnessed the crash and told NewsChannel5 he helped pull the RTA driver from the bus. He said it appeared the driver was having a seizure.

Transit police and University Heights police are investigating the crash. South Euclid Police also responded.

The No. 41 bus route extends from the Glenwillow-Solon area to the Louis Stokes Station at Windermere in East Cleveland.

Keep checking newsnet5.com for more information.