A 14-year-old boy who jumped onto the outside of a Broward County bus was hospitalized after he was run over by the bus in Pompano Beach Friday morning, officials said.
The incident happened around 9 a.m. in the 1200 block of E. Sample Road, the Broward Sheriff's Office said.
Woman Hospitalized After I-95 Crash Involving Police Cruiser
According to the BSO, the middle schooler had been running to catch the bus when he jumped on its exterior. Witnesses said he held on for a minute before falling off and being run over by the bus.
Brian Clark said he was on the bus at the time and witnessed the entire thing.
"I was sitting right in the front seat of the bus, I saw the kid's hand. The kid was trying to get on the bus, everybody on the bus was screaming 'stop, stop, stop!'" Clark said. "I saw the kid go to get on the bus, his hand, from his elbow down, was inside the bus. The kid was running sideways trying to catch the bus, then the kid went under the bus."
Clark said the driver ignored the passengers telling him to stop.
Local
"For this bus driver to not listen to the passengers screaming, everybody on the bus screaming 'stop,' and he just ignored us," Clark said.
The boy was taken to Broward Health North hospital. Once he is stabilized, he will be taken to Broward Health Medical Center, the BSO said.
BSO traffic homicide detectives responded to investigate due to the severity of the injuries, BSO officials said.
"You'll see the detectives here taking measurements, they take photos, they talk to witnesses, just like any other crime scene," BSO spokeswoman Dani Moschella said. "It often takes weeks and months to put together that investigation. However in the end, they'll know exactly what happened and if there is anything criminal, charges will be pressed."
Moschella said the teen was seriously injured.
"This was a terrible accident. This family is going to be affected by this day for a long time to come," she said.
Broward County Administrator Bertha Henry said, “Our thoughts and prayers are with this young man and his family. We are saddened by this tragic incident. The safety of passengers is a top priority for Broward County Transit.”
The driver of the bus, Reinaldo Soto, 55, has been placed on administrative leave pending the outcome of the investigation. He had been a bus operator with Broward Transit since 2002.
More Local Stories:
