Pioneer Square bus crash: More than a dozen hurt in Seattle

More than a dozen people were injured when a Sound Transit bus crashed into a building in Seattle's Pioneer Square on Saturday.

SEATTLE - More than a dozen people sustained injuries, with one person in critical condition, after a Sound Transit bus collided with a building Saturday evening in Seattle's Pioneer Square.

The incident occurred just before 7 p.m. near the intersection of 5th Avenue and Yesler Way. The force of the crash brought the bus to a stop against the retaining wall of the building, after it struck another building and took down power lines.

A bus crashed into a building in Pioneer Square on June 22, 2024. (FOX 13 Seattle)

Officials reported that about 15 individuals were aboard the bus during the collision. A total of 11 people were hospitalized, including the driver, and a 54-year-old man is in critical condition at Harborview Medical Center.

Emergency audio alerts from the Citizen app highlighted the severity of the incident, prompting first responders to escalate the situation to a mass casualty incident. Although there were no fatalities, the high volume of injuries required a significant response from multiple agencies, including Metro Transit Police, Seattle Police and the King County Sheriff's Office.

One of the witnesses, Vigel Roberson, recounted his efforts to assist the bus driver after the vehicle veered off the road and made the impact.

"He had a cut above his eye. I don’t know how deep it is. He was bleeding, he was in shock. I tried to get him to sit down," Roberson said.

He also witnessed the state of distress among the other passengers, including a woman with a visibly injured nose.

"Her nose was messed up," Roberson said. "She was bleeding and she was in shock and she was shaking and all that, and she couldn’t stop. She kept saying, ‘I’ll be ok.’"

Some onlookers watched as first responders closed off the scene.

"Obviously, it’s unusual to see a bus part on the sidewalk. It was a little bit shocking," said Phillip Williams, a passerby.

"Seeing this, it’s pretty scary. I’m not gonna lie," said Rick Cruz, who was near the crash site. "I don’t have a car so public transportation is a big thing for me."

It's currently unclear what led to the crash.

This is a developing story. Check back for details. If you have additional information, pictures, or video email fox13tips@fox.com.