Date of incident: September 2021
Notice of incident number: 2021194940006
Employer: Transit service company

Incident summary
A transit bus operator was operating a 19.8 m (65 ft.) trolley bus. Due to a mechanical issue, the operator pulled over at a bus stop to de-wire the trolley poles from the overhead power wires. A worker operating a second 19.8 m (65 ft.) trolley bus stopped behind the first bus. The two operators talked briefly, and the first operator told the second operator that the first bus was experiencing a mechanical issue. The first operator was standing behind the first bus and de-wiring the trolley poles when he was struck by the second bus as it pulled away from the bus stop. The operator sustained fatal injuries.

Investigation conclusions

Cause

• Worker inadvertently depressed accelerator treadle. As the first operator de-wired the second trolley pole from his bus, the second operator prepared to leave the bus stop and continue on the bus route. She had released the parking brake and activated the left turn signal. She was preparing to pull out into the middle lane when she stepped on the accelerator treadle. The bus accelerated and struck the first operator, who had his back to the second bus.

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