Published: Wednesday, September 1, 2010
Bus driver avoids I-5 tragedy in harrowing south Everett collision
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Photo by Brandon Davis
A car ran into an Everett Transit bus on I-5 on Tuesday morning.
EVERETT -- No one was seriously hurt in a harrowing bus crash on I-5 Tuesday morning in south Everett, thanks to the cool, calm actions of the Everett Transit driver.
Bart Simpson didn't fare as well.
At just before 10 a.m., a Toyota Supra swerved into a Buick LeSabre traveling down the far left lane just south of the 75th Street overpass.
The impact sent the Buick rocketing across the interstate. It slammed into an Everett Transit bus in the far right lane, said Trooper Mark Francis, a spokesman with the Washington State Patrol.
The Buick's nose was squashed into an advertisement on the side of the bus that featured cartoon characters Bart Simpson, Bobby Hill, Eric Cartman and Stewie Griffin.
"That car stuck in the bus like a dart," said Brandon Davis, who witnessed the crash.
Davis, a salesman from Seattle, and his colleague, Les Lewis of Lake Stevens, were driving right behind the cars involved.
Davis and Lewis stopped, called 911 and offered what help they could. Davis also snapped a picture.
Steffani Lillie, a spokeswoman for Everett Transit, said no passengers were on the bus, which was heading from the Everett Mall to the Everett Station to start a route. She said the driver is a seasoned, 11-year veteran with Everett Transit. She declined to provide his name.
Lillie said the driver felt the car hit the bus and slowly brought the bus to a stop.
"His training and experience did kick in and keep the incident from becoming worse," she said.
Trooper Francis said the driver of the Supra hasn't been cited but that is likely.
Both witnesses said it's amazing that no one was seriously hurt. Traffic on northbound I-5 at the time was heavy and moving quickly.
They saw the bus driver maintain control after the collision, easing the big rig to the shoulder with a car stuck to its side.
"The bus driver's reactions were just phenomenal, very professional," Lewis said. "He had a nice cool, calm head."
Debra Smith: 425-339-3197; dsmith@heraldnet.com.
Bart Simpson didn't fare as well.
At just before 10 a.m., a Toyota Supra swerved into a Buick LeSabre traveling down the far left lane just south of the 75th Street overpass.
The impact sent the Buick rocketing across the interstate. It slammed into an Everett Transit bus in the far right lane, said Trooper Mark Francis, a spokesman with the Washington State Patrol.
The Buick's nose was squashed into an advertisement on the side of the bus that featured cartoon characters Bart Simpson, Bobby Hill, Eric Cartman and Stewie Griffin.
"That car stuck in the bus like a dart," said Brandon Davis, who witnessed the crash.
Davis, a salesman from Seattle, and his colleague, Les Lewis of Lake Stevens, were driving right behind the cars involved.
Davis and Lewis stopped, called 911 and offered what help they could. Davis also snapped a picture.
Steffani Lillie, a spokeswoman for Everett Transit, said no passengers were on the bus, which was heading from the Everett Mall to the Everett Station to start a route. She said the driver is a seasoned, 11-year veteran with Everett Transit. She declined to provide his name.
Lillie said the driver felt the car hit the bus and slowly brought the bus to a stop.
"His training and experience did kick in and keep the incident from becoming worse," she said.
Trooper Francis said the driver of the Supra hasn't been cited but that is likely.
Both witnesses said it's amazing that no one was seriously hurt. Traffic on northbound I-5 at the time was heavy and moving quickly.
They saw the bus driver maintain control after the collision, easing the big rig to the shoulder with a car stuck to its side.
"The bus driver's reactions were just phenomenal, very professional," Lewis said. "He had a nice cool, calm head."
Debra Smith: 425-339-3197; dsmith@heraldnet.com.
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