NEW YORK (1010 WINS) — Sixteen people suffered minor injuries when an MTA bus crashed into a building in Brooklyn on Monday, officials said.
The B49 bus was traveling south on Bedford Avenue in Prospect Lefferts Gardens just before 2 p.m. on Monday when its driver lost control, hopped a curb and crashed into a townhouse building at the corner of Lincoln Road, police and the FDNY said.
Sixteen people were left with non-life threatening injuries after the crash, 13 of whom were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment, FDNY officials said at a news briefing. The department initially said 17 people were hurt.
MTA Bus President Craig Sipriano told reporters the 55-year-old bus driver has been on the job for 13 years.
"Initial indications are that the bus was not going at a high rate of speed, but the investigation is ongoing," Sipriano said, while noting that there "doesn't appear to be any kind of mechanical defect that caused the incident."
"Our thoughts and prayers go out to those injured, and we're very grateful there were no serious injuries," he added.
The city’s Department of Buildings sent inspectors and engineers to the scene to conduct structural stability tests, a spokesperson said.