CHICAGO (WLS) — A tragic incident unfolded on Wednesday in South Shore involving a CTA bus, leading to the unfortunate death of a woman. Chicago police have since issued a citation to the bus driver involved.
The accident occurred just before 8 a.m. when the bus, originally stationary in the 7000 block of South South Shore Drive, began to move unexpectedly. According to police reports, a woman, later identified as Tracy Frasure by the Cook County Medical Examiner’s Office, appeared to have slipped and was subsequently struck by the bus.
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Eyewitnesses recounted the distressing scene, noting that the bus collided with the woman as she attempted to board. Shockingly, the vehicle continued its course after the impact, leaving the scene of the accident.
One witness, Wayne Foster, described the chilling moment, saying, “It sounded like branches scraping against the glass.” Foster was a passenger on the No. 26 bus and noticed Frasure knocking on the door at a stop near 70th Street and South Shore Drive just before the incident occurred.
“Heard something sound like branches on the glass,” witness Wayne Foster said.
Foster said he was riding the No. 26 bus when he noticed a woman who was knocking on the door at a stop near 70th Street and South Shore Drive.
“Me and the other passengers told this the driver that there was a woman on the ground. He proceeded to say, ‘Oh, (expletive).’ And drove off,” Foster said.
Foster said he got off the bus and tried to help.
“I know that somebody’s little girl, that somebody’s child, somebody’s going like, somebody’s whole world is going to be crushed today,” Foster said.
A CTA spokesperson said, “According to preliminary information, CTA received reports of contact between a #26 bus and a female pedestrian at 69th and South Shore.”
Foster says he was on his way to work at the time. But the incident was so traumatic he ended up going home. He says now he is just praying for the family.
“Take your time to grieve, but to also reach out to the city, reach out to CTA, important them to be transparent and not to have a lot behind legal tape,” Foster said.
The CTA did not directly answer a question about the driver proceeding to drive off.
The video in the player above is from a previous report.
