Pedestrian struck by Winnipeg Transit bus dies

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This article was published 10/11/2023 (877 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

A man who was struck by a Winnipeg Transit bus on Main Street early Thursday evening has died.

Police were called to Main Street near Logan Avenue shortly after 5:30 p.m.

The victim, a man in his 60s, was taken to hospital in critical condition but later died, police said Friday.

Investigators believe the man was crossing the street in traffic when he was struck by the bus, which was travelling north on Main.

None of the bus passengers was hurt, police said.

Northbound Main Street was closed for several hours after the collision. A large section of the street was cordoned off behind yellow crime scene tape, where a city bus sat parked.

Winnipeg Police Service traffic division investigators are probing the circumstances, but the collision is not considered criminal, police said.

The head of the union that represents bus drivers called the death tragic.

“There’s not only the loss of life, from the pedestrian, but… there’s the operator. He’s not doing very well, we have reached out to him,” said Chris Scott, president of Amalgamated Transit Union Local 1505.

“He’s, understandably, reliving the incident… We have assured him that support is there.”

Scott said the union is ready to support the driver as he grapples with the tragedy.

“Physically, he’s OK, but emotionally and psychologically, he’s been injured,” said Scott, who added that the driver will likely be off work for an extended period of time.

Winnipeg Transit spokeswoman Megan Benedictson refused to comment, citing the police investigation.

erik.pindera@freepress.mb.ca