MBTA Bus Crashes Through Guardrail Above the Mass. Turnpike

Workers said the bus was never in danger of going over the edge.

By Steve Annear· 5/18/2014, 9:11 a.m.

Photo by Amanda Rollins

Eight people were reportedly injured and sent to area hospitals after an MBTA bus crashed through a guardrail above the Massachusetts Turnpike in Newton on Sunday morning.

According to State Police officials, the Route 57 bus slammed into a fence lining the Washington Street bridge that carries traffic over the busy highway. Part of the bus went over the side of the roadway, and appeared as though it was dangling above the Mass. Pike, but officers said the vehicle was not in danger of going over the side.

“There is no threat of [the] bus falling down onto the Mass Pike as it has been secured by Newton Fire Department,” officers said in a statement, as they worked to get passengers and the driver off the vehicle without incident.

Transit Police officials said there was a total of 10 people on the bus when it “veered” to the left and collided with the guardrail. Eight people, including the driver, were sent to the hospital with non-life threatening injuries, officials said.

While crews worked to remove the vehicle, the right lane and on-ramp from the interchange at exit 17 to the westbound side of the Mass. Pike was closed. The right lane of traffic on the Turnpike, below the crash, was also closed due to debris that fell from the accident above, and the potential of additional debris falling during the cleanup.

The reason for the crash wasn’t immediately known, but T officials said it’s under investigation.