Seattle, Washington – A Sound Transit bus crashed into a structure in downtown Seattle on Saturday evening, resulting in injuries to 15 people on board. The incident occurred after the bus’s brakes reportedly failed, according to the Seattle Police Department.
The Seattle Fire Department responded to the scene and stated that power lines may have been knocked down as a result of the crash. Pedestrians and drivers are advised to avoid the area as authorities work to clear the scene and assess the extent of the damage.
Eyewitness accounts describe the force of the crash propelling the bus into a retaining wall of a building, after colliding with another structure and bringing down power lines. The severity of the impact prompted emergency responders to classify the situation as a mass casualty incident. However, no fatalities have been reported.
The bus driver informed Seattle police that the brakes failed just moments before the crash occurred. The Seattle Fire Department and paramedics evaluated several passengers involved in the collision and provided the necessary medical assistance.
This is not the first time such an incident has occurred in Seattle. In January, a King County Metro bus collided with a building near 16th Avenue South and South Jackson Street, resulting in damage to an indoor skatepark. Fortunately, no injuries were reported among the 25 passengers on board.
In November 2023, a King County Metro bus crashed into a building in Seattle’s Belltown area, resulting in the death of a pedestrian and critical injuries to the driver of another vehicle.
Video footage from the scene of the recent crash shows the bus colliding with a wall structure near an overpass, outside of a building. King County Metro operates Sound Transit’s regional bus service, according to county officials.
As investigations into the incident continue, it remains unclear what specifically led to the bus’s brakes failing. The Seattle Police Department and other relevant agencies are working diligently to determine the cause and prevent similar incidents in the future.
