MBTA bus crashes into Roxbury building

Posted: 06/25/12 at 10:45 pm EDT      Last Updated: 06/26/12 at 10:56 pm EDT

ROXBURY, Mass. (WHDH) -- An MBTA bus crashed into a building in Roxbury Monday night after it was cut off by another vehicle, officials say.

The Route 15 bus with 15 passengers on board crashed into the Whittier Street Health Center at 1290 Tremont Street in Roxbury after it was involved in a collision with a four-door sedan.

The collision with the car sent the bus veering left and into the health center.

The driver of the car told T police he was heading the wrong way on Tremont and was trying to change lanes to turn around when he collided with the bus.

A police report says the driver told officers he "knew Tremont Street," but apparently not well enough.

Two people were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

The building inspector had to inspect the five-story building before the bus could be removed. The damage to the inside of the building is extensive.

District Fire Chief Charlie Mitchell says, given the number of people on the bus at the time, the accident could have been much worse.

“It’s right at the front; it just stuck out the front wall,” Mitchell said. “It’s not that big a deal - I mean if I were all those people I’d be buying a lottery ticket, because they were all lucky.”

"I was shocked but also grateful that there were no lives lost," said Frederica Williams, Whittier Street Health Center CEO.

Williams said the damage to the building could amount to $2 million. A sprinkler system burst causing extensive water damage. Ten of the 40 departments in the building have been moved.

"We're hoping it won't take long. We've moved some of the departments to another section of the building so we can remain functional," Williams said.

Police are still investigating the incident.

Photo courtesy: Boston Fire Department.

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