HOUSTON – A METRO bus driver was fired after his bus struck and killed a pedestrian last month.
METRO officials said their investigation found that driver Mark Upchurch could have taken measures to prevent the accident on April 17 at 5:30 p.m. in the 4500 block of Main Street.
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Investigators said a man walked into the door of the bus, breaking the window, and then fell under the bus as he crossed the entrance to the Wheeler Transit Center.
"The discharge is an administrative matter. Independent of that, the Harris County District Attorney's office will now conduct its own investigation. I am satisfied that we placed the necessary resources at hand for a thorough investigation, and while the circumstances are tragic, we continue to expect our drivers to maneuver their vehicles in a safe manner and with a high-level of skill," said Andrew Skabowski, METRO Senior Vice President for Service Delivery.
No passengers were on the bus at the time of the incident.
Upchurch had been with METRO for 12 years.