Bus Rolls Into Hamilton Storefront

January 17, 2012

[Updated] Earlier this morning [Jan.17] an incident occurred in which it appears a bus rolled back and smashed into a building at the Hamilton Bus Terminal.

The Audio-Visual store window is smashed, and police are presently monitoring the scene. Details are limited at this time, but we have asked both the police and Transport Ministry for information, and hopefully can update soon with an official statement.

Update 2.40pm: A Transport Ministry spokesperson said, “There was an accident involving a bus at the central terminal earlier today. The bus rolled back from its parked position and hit a store window.

“Department of Public Transportation Supervisors and an Assistant Manager attended the scene of the accident and an investigation has been initiated to determine the cause and extent of damage. There were no injuries reported.”

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Category: Accidents and fires, All, News

Comments (85)

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  1. ooops... says:

    shes baaaaaack….

  2. Friend says:

    I WAS WAITING FOR THE DUMMIE TO DO THIS!

  3. Friend says:

    MANAGERS MUSTA BEEN TALKING TO EACH OTHER AS USUAL & NOT PAYING ATTENTION! OH WELL….

  4. Mooin says:

    Bus driver must have been backing up real fast to do that kind of damage…

  5. Smh says:

    I thought they have someone directing the buses out :S

  6. The road to hell says:

    Wait til Furbert gets a hold of this one. It certainly won’t be the driver’s fault or that of any working union member and there won’t be any disciplinary action taken in case of a walk-out yet again…..

    • WTF says:

      Of course not – that building jumped out in front of the bus!

  7. they cant drive says:

    somebod needs to learn how to use their rear view mirrors!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! FAIL!

    • time to privatize says:

      Could not agree more! It’s been an accident waiting to happen too with a combo of poor design of the bus station by Government & poor driving skills (hello, not using mirrors!!!)! Just hope that Brother Furbert abides by the rules & that the driver is tested for substance abuse. Anyway it’s time privatize the public transportation as it has a lot to be desired from drivers to maintenance to schedules.

  8. Skeptic says:

    Check out the teeny little brick under the rear wheel used as a parking brake – LOL

  9. For your information... says:

    For all of you that want to comment on how fast and the bad the driver must have been doing… there was no driver on the bus at the time. There was a malfunction with the brakes…

    • Blaa Blaa!! says:

      Yeah the malfunction is called “brake not engaged”. This is the second incident. It doesn’t matter it is not unacceptable. I’m glad no one was injured and those mechanic do not work on airliners..

      • LOL (original) says:

        No money in the buget for the mechanics………………….?

        LOL

      • Wow2012... says:

        LOL LOL LOL

        • a bermudian says:

          the buses aren’t manual. there’s no way it could’ve rolled back with that force. i smell a liarrrrrr

  10. 1minute says:

    Don’t forget to drug test the driver….

  11. Brakes Check? says:

    Why does the bus have a chock under the rear wheel? Bad brakes?

  12. SMDH says:

    Guessing the handbrake was not pulled up…Either way prepare for a strike because they will probably refuse a drug test although its mandatory if you get in an accident “right or wrong”…IMJUSTSAYING

    • SMDH says:

      Why is it so Amazing…Boring really is more like it….

  13. Seriously? says:

    You all get so excited over the most stupid things….and please get all the facts before ASSuming that there was a driver….SMDH….Bermudians are amazing buh.

    • 5boro says:

      I was on a bus a few years ago that had to pull over because the brakes were failing. So until facts say otherwise, I’m going to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I can’t tell for sure, but that looks like one of the older buses. It’s very possible that the brakes failed. And since the terminal is on an incline, this is what happened. I hope no one was injured.

      I am not surprised at the derisive comments. Maybe BerNews can update with some more details to quiet the harpies.

      • islander says:

        Just an FYI u see that license plate its says 2K1 meaning its a 2001 bus.

        • CollegeGirl says:

          Which is OVER 10 years old making it an older bus…

          • islander says:

            Um duh I was just letting him/ her know how to tell the age FFS.

      • Hello, wake up call says:

        Sorry, but we’re not harpies. Whenever something like this happens, and someone tries to do something about it, all the bus drivers automatically go “MISTREATMENT!” and strike. Everyone’s had enough of it. The most recent bus strike: classic example. It’s disgusting.

    • Serious Though says:

      @Seriously?

      This is Public transport, we need to know everything, i mean everything!

      • Seriously? says:

        YAAAA I understand that, but wait until all the details come out before making assumptions…bernews distinctly said “and hopefully can update soon with an official statement.”…but I understand everyone’s bored and need some excitement in their lives…its ok…

  14. navin johnson says:

    it was the store’s fault for being there so make the store owner take a drug test…

    • alicia says:

      Well then this must be a plot by the PLP to make the OBA look bad then since the building is owned by the Gibbons Company :) (yes – sarcasm)

  15. The Ridiculist says:

    You all are sooooo shallow. MY GOSH!!! An accident and you all are glorifying with your stupid remarks. Get a clue!! Like Really. SMDH!

    • Serious Though says:

      No just an accident PUBLIC TRANSPORT ACCIDENT! they are responsible for a lot of people lives, and we expect them to take care of BDA future too, School children!

      • time to privatize says:

        Agree with you too Serious Though. We have a pathetic transportation system from the drivers, maintenance & schedules . . . To too many accidents happening & fortunately, know one on a bus has been seriously injured as of yet . . . WAKE UP Bermuda Government!

        • navin johnson says:

          WAKE UP Bermuda Government? surely you jest….they have been catatonic for years…..thats funny wake up Bermuda Governement…good one…

  16. The Hell!! says:

    People are entitled to their opinions. However it may be an indication of the past maintenance issues with these busses, maybe a result of budget cuts or negligence that needs to be seriously addressed.

  17. bermy says:

    Maybe the government could get rid of conscription and use the regiment money for some good like paying mechanics to fix the buses. Then (if it was brake malfunction) this incident wouldn’t have occurred, there can be more reliable buses available and means that cruise ship passengers may not be put off by the long bus stop queues when they arrive, have an enjoyable image of Bermuda, come back again and bring more money into the country.

  18. Union Member says:

    Yes…budget cuts have impacted the maintenance which means overall safety may be at stake. BIU must consider wage/week reductions…its necessary or posts will begin being cut.

  19. Truth Spoken says:

    SMH… why is the terminal like that anyway, oh I forgot they are attempting to copy the states… Mercy PTB what now!

  20. Terry says:

    It’s the UBP’s fault.

    • Hello, wake up call says:

      The UBP consists of two members. Neither of which runs the government or has any hand in public transportation. So somehow I doubt it.

      If you want to point fingers, try the present government, which is *gasp* the PLP. What a surprise.

  21. Jesus says:

    Was the bus driver Francesco Schettino?

  22. Lazy Fools says:

    The bus was probably missing a cog in the wheel… Either way, its definitely time for another strike! We only pay $400,000 per bus, so no wonder “the brakes failed”!

  23. The Rock says:

    oopps. someone needs a drug test and the drivers will be on strike again. i better book that friend again to drive me to work in the morning.

  24. Family Man says:

    What an apt metaphor for Bermuda’s economy. A driver-less bus rolling backward until it hits a brick wall.

  25. Shameful says:

    All of you with your negative comments make me want to gag… Just be grateful that if in fact it was a malfunction of the braking system that the bus was not traveling on our narrow roads with passengers. For pete’s sake a lot of you people (commenting here)are asinine. I surely know where your kids get their f**ked up mentality from. SHAMEFUL INDEED!!!

    • You are joking right says:

      I have to agree. These posters are like flies around sh%#.

      • Eastern says:

        @ “Shameful” and “you are joking right” while you have complained about everyone’s post; you lost your gullibility with your filthy mouths. How dare you knock all these bloggers and turn around and use unnecessary profane language, even if it is hidden behind the spelling. You’re much nastier then them.

      • navin johnson says:

        got that right particularly when we speak of the government

    • Seriously? says:

      I agree!!

    • Finally left! says:

      I do not like the argument that people should ignore a bad event simply because they should be grateful it wasn’t worse. That basically trivializes all bad events.

      That being said, we dont know all the facts, but the article does seem to imply that it was a driver-less bus, so comments i would assume should be limited to that.

      My opinion, i find malfunctioning breaks to be much scarier a situation than driver error, and somewhat hope it was a missed handbrake.

    • Seriously? says:

      I agree with Shameful….

    • Hello, wake up call says:

      Honey. First of all, don’t TELL me how to raise my kids. Not your place. Second of all, anger at the government does not = gang violence in Bermuda. Sorry. And third of all, we’re all sick of the fact that there are such flaws in the public transportation system. You’re right. If the bus had been full of passengers, it would have been much worse. We’re angry about the fact that it very well could have been. We’re supposed to be able to trust the fact that the Ministry of Transportation is checking up on this. Apparently not.

  26. MAMAMIA says:

    THERE WAS NO DRIVER IN THE DRIVER’S SEAT…

    • Terry says:

      They jumped out before it grounded……………………..

    • Triangle Drifter says:

      Can verify that stement from eyewitness. NO driver onboard.

      Drove in, hopped off bus & was headed across the road to the Bakery.

      Apparently he did not check parking brake, if it was applied.

      Maybe he can get a job with Costa Cruises.

      Drug test??? Diciplinary action??

      • Terry says:

        So they were going to the ‘Brakery’. Is that what your saying….Drifter?

  27. WHAT'S HAPPENING? says:

    ????????

  28. Cockerworld says:

    RIGHT ON “SHAMEFUL”!!!!!!!!!!

  29. WHAT'S HAPPENING? says:

    only time will tell

  30. stern says:

    Human error! That’s all!

  31. Starseeker says:

    I read most commits but we don’t really know what happened. They could have had problems with the brakes. So people need to keep remarks to themselves before passing judgement.

  32. Wow2012... says:

    I’m not going to lie, this made me LOL. I’m just glad no one was seriously injured.

  33. mixitup says:

    PLEASE have money in the budget this year for at least 20 New Busses!!

  34. Get Real says:

    Did the driver need to relieve him/herself that desperately that they forgot to apply the handbrake? I’m glad I wasn’t a pedestrian on the sidewalk at that time!

  35. Y-Gurl says:

    What happened to the well paid person with the stop sign thats supposed to watch the busses coming back…off having a smoke or chatting to someone accross the street? Bottom line is that bus terminal is to small for whats required and the blame should lay with the lady who put it together “the principal governmaent structural engineer” who cant read a measuring tape! How may accidents since it was built (I think around 35)

  36. Y-Gurl says:

    EXCUSE: WHAT A STUPID PLACE TO PUT A STORE!

    • billy bob says:

      dumb ass the stores have been there longer then the bus termial

  37. Smh says:

    If this bus had a so called “brake malfunction”. WHO WAS THE GENIUS THAT PARKED IT ON THIS DAMN HILL?! Obviously there is a possibility that it is going to roll backwards. Geeshums man!

    • SJ Taylor says:

      So, you think the driver KNEW there was something wrong with the brakes and decided to park it and walk away? WOW…..

  38. nelly boi says:

    oh yeah i strike will be coming soon.

  39. Terry says:

    It’s dee “OBA’s” fault………….

    One Bus Accident……………………………………

    Put em charge………?

    Good thing there’s no foreigners driving……….

    Only Bermudians Apply………………………………OBA………..

    • Hello, wake up call says:

      S’cuse me, can’t help wondering, might your last name be ‘Lister’? And might you be in charge of the Ministry of Transportation? It’s not the OBA’s responsibility to make sure the buses work. It’s the Ministry of Transportation.

      • Terry says:

        How did you know.

        I’ll be after you next for outing me.

  40. Razor Ramon says:

    Bus driver may be fined or suspended. Then we will get another strike!

  41. Cedar Beams (Original) says:

    Just glad nobody was hurt. It’ll be fine soon since we’ll have foreign bus drivers who pay attention, show up for work, don’t take drugs and are polite.

  42. The Hell!! says:

    The problem with Bermuda is we do not take failure seriously this has happened before and should not have happened a second time the finance minister seems to have not given deep thought or did not listen to people in the government departments as to the consequences of budget cuts. These cuts could now be jeopardizing public safety..

    • Y-Gurl says:

      Budget cuts dont have any bearing on the pathetic drivers that are hired

  43. Fed Up!! says:

    We need to stop this PLP& OBA (UBP) blame game, Cause this is a Safety issue that needs to be address. Mr. Furbert(BIU) and Mr. Burgess need to make sure that their drivers/ machanics are up to the job. We all have driven on buses or have family that uses public transpotation system and the carelessness that is shown her must be address.

  44. Holla! says:

    @ Cedar Beams

    Do you utilize the bus? We already have more than a handful of foreign drivers.

  45. Jim Bean says:

    HILARIOUS – PLP!!!!!

  46. UK says:

    So here is my thing…..you lot pay all that money to get on the bus right ( I KNOW CHILDREN ARE FREE…I USED TO LIVE IN BEREMUDA MY WHOLE LIFE BUT I MOVED) ? But the yet the money you spend for a bus ride is suppose to be for gas and if the buses need fixing right? so whyyyyyyyy were the brakes not fixed? watch the story change…smh

  47. Red Flag says:

    Wow I didn’t know Bermuda was a perfect world where accidents don’t happen. Some of you are pathetic. You take every chance to take a shot at Government even when it makes you look like a fool. Not one of you are perfect and every one of you have made a mistake in your lives. Why act like this is such a intolerable thing? Its unfortunate yes but things happen. Get over yourselves.