JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A Jacksonville Transportation Authority bus driver was rescued after a dramatic crash Sunday night left her bus hanging off the Interstate 95 overpass above Dunn Avenue.
According to the Florida Highway Patrol, Hollie Beasley, 34, was driving south on I-95 when she lost control of the bus around 10 p.m. Troopers the bus flipped but landed on its wheels.
Rescue crews managed to secure the bus and rescue Beasley, who was the only person on board. She was transported to UF Health Jacksonville with minor injuries.
The bus began leaking natural gas after the crash, causing both lanes of I-95 at Dunn Avenue to close for hours.
Beasley said she couldn't discuss the accident, but she and her co-workers are grateful she was not seriously hurt and it happened when no one else was on the bus.
One man told me he witnessed the crash.
"It was raining. It was like the bus started going off toward the median ... and then it crashed toward the median and then it drifted over," he told News4Jax. "Then there was just cops, just coming and blocking off the road."
A heavy-duty tow truck managed to get the bus off the ledge. All lanes reopened Monday morning and charges are pending, according to FHP.
Great Job by our Jacksonville Firefighters @jaff122 this morning with a COJ Bus almost had a tragedy during the night. Natural gas was leaking from the bus upon arrival and luckily the one occupant (Driver) survived the experience. pic.twitter.com/pGaaWef78P
— Jax Firefighters (@jaff122) September 10, 2018
Leigh Ann Rassler, JTA's public relations manager released a statement:
The accident involving a JTA bus on Interstate 95 at Dunn Avenue on September 9 is an active investigation. The safety of our customers and operators is our number one priority. We are grateful that bus operator Hollie Beasley was not seriously injured and that no passengers were on board. We thank all of the first responders on-site who assisted in resolving the incident as safely and quickly as possible."