Sixteen people were injured, with several in critical condition, after a vehicle allegedly fleeing police collided with a Maryland Transit Administration bus in Baltimore on Thursday. The crash occurred shortly before 1 p.m. at an intersection.
According to Baltimore Police Commissioner Richard Worley, the vehicle contained four juveniles and was fleeing officers when it impacted the bus. Police had reportedly received an alert for a stolen vehicle and attempted to initiate a traffic stop. The Baltimore Police Department Aviation Unit was called to assist before officers observed the collision.
Twelve individuals on the bus, including the driver, were transported to area hospitals. The four juveniles from the vehicle were also hospitalized, with at least two in critical condition. Baltimore Fire Department Chief James Wallace stated that while most injuries were minor, several people were in serious or critical condition.
The vehicle appeared to have been traveling at a high rate of speed at the time of the collision. It was traveling eastbound on East Oliver Street and struck the bus, which was heading southbound on North Wolfe Street. Police are investigating how long the pursuit lasted before the crash, with preliminary information suggesting officers pursued the vehicle for a period before attempting the stop.
Investigators plan to review video footage from the bus and police. The crash remains under investigation.