The Latest: July 23, 5 p.m.
Philadelphia police have identified the woman killed when two SEPTA buses collided Friday. They say 72-year-old Siu Nam Mak, of Philadelphia's Oxford Circle neighborhood, was rushed to Nazareth Hospital and pronounced dead about two hours after the crash.
A 38-year-old bus driver, whose name has not been released, is still in extremely critical condition at Jefferson-Torresdale Hospital. Twelve other people were treated at area hospitals for minor injuries.
Original article follows:
PHILADELPHIA (KYW Newsradio) — One person was killed and more than a dozen were injured Friday after a SEPTA bus rear-ended another on Roosevelt Boulevard, Philadelphia police said.
It happened around 12:15 p.m. near Shelmire Avenue in Rhawnhurst.
Police said both buses were occupied, and approximately 14 people were injured, including both drivers. At least two of the injured were taken to the hospital in critical condition.
Police said one passenger, a 72-year-old, was pronounced dead around 2 p.m.
A 38-year-old driver is in critical condition at Jefferson-Torresdale Hospital.
According to eyewitness accounts, the first bus was moving slowly in the right lane and almost came to a stop when the second bus clipped the left side, which sent a shockwave through both buses. The second bus appeared to try to swerve out of the way but it was too late.
Most of the injured passengers were on the bus that was struck.
Officials at the scene say drivers often take this curve of the boulevard quickly. Roosevelt Boulevard is one of the country’s most dangerous roadways.
Robert K. West was heading to the barbershop when suddenly the bus he was on hit another right in front of it.
“My phone flew out [of] my pocket,” he said. “One guy in the other seat across from me on the other side of the aisle, he flew out [of] his seat.”
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West wasn’t hurt, so he did what he could to help get that man and others off the bus.
“It was shocking,” he said. “There was nothing [the driver] could do. She slammed on the brake, but by then, that bus was already stopped. It wasn't even moving. So she slammed into the back of it. [There] was somebody in the other lane, so she couldn't go around the bus without causing an accident herself.”