88-Year-Old Pedestrian Killed in MBTA Bus Accident

Updated at 10:30 p.m. Tuesday

An 88-year-old pedestrian died after being struck by a MBTA bus in the area of Franklin and Pratt Streets Tuesday night, according to Kenneth Green, deputy chief for the MBTA Transit Police.

Police responded to the accident scene at the corner of Franklin and Pratt Streets at 7:06 p.m. Melrose Police and Fire units also responded.

Based on their initial investigation, police believe the 88-year-old man was crossing the street when he was struck by the 131 Melrose Highlands bus. The victim, whose name is being withheld pending notification of family, was pronounced dead at the scene and later transported to Melrose-Wakefield Hospital.

"The victim was attempting to cross the street," Green said. "The bus was traveling about 20 miles per hour and about to pull in to a bus stop, and, according to witnesses on the scene, the way the sun was coming over the hill there was a real nasty sun glare and that might have contributed to the bus hitting him."

Police do not believe the accident was suspicious in nature, and the bus driver will be relieved of their duties and tested for drugs and alcohol which is standard procedure.

The case is being handled by the Middlesex District Attorney's office, according to Green.

Observations From Passers-By

Observers of the accident scene recall what they saw Tuesday evening.

"Sea of blue lights on Franklin (Street). Not a good sign at all," tweeted Twitter user A.P. Blake (@BostonUrbEx).

In an email to Melrose Patch Tuesday night, a Melrose man said, "Looks like an older gentleman hit in crosswalk at Franklin and Pratt by the bus closer to 7 p.m. I came upon the scene on (my) way home right after it happened. Very disturbing. Person looked dead..."

He continued, saying, "He was face down in a pool of blood about 20-30 feet beyond the crosswalk in the east bound lane...The bus was stopped upon the crosswalk. About 6-8 people were gathered around the victim. Another was directing traffic around the bus. Nobody was offering assistance. I'm not sure it mattered."

The man reported seeing a window on the passenger side of the bus being broken.

At the scene, Melrose Patch interviewed a Melrosian who saw the victim in the roadway shortly after they were struck. Adam Colucci, a five-year resident in the city, said he had just finished dinner when he heard a commotion outside following the accident.

"The paramedics had just arrived on scene and they had broken out the backboard and they were setting him on it and performing CPR and things like that," said Colucci, who has lived on Franklin Street for the past several months. "I saw a lot of blood and he had a pretty good gash on his head. Shortly after that, they put a blanket over him...and about 1-2 minutes after that he was in the ambulance." 

As of 9:30 p.m., police were still on scene investigating. The scene was clear by 10 p.m.