HOUSTON, Texas (KTRK) — A METRO bus and four other cars were involved in a multi-vehicle crash on the south side of Houston, and at least seven people were hospitalized as a result, according to the Houston Fire Department.
A Thursday afternoon crash involving a METRO bus left several people injured in south Houston. The Almeda Road METRO bus crash happened around 4 p.m. in the 11000 block of Almeda Road, according to fire officials.
Almeda Road METRO Bus Crash Under Investigation
Fire officials said seven people were taken to different hospitals after the wreck. They did not release additional details about their conditions.
METRO Police gave a different breakdown of the reported injuries. According to METRO Police, nine bus passengers reported injuries after the crash.
Only one of those passengers was hospitalized, METRO Police said. That person had injuries that were not considered life-threatening.
Authorities did not immediately release the names or ages of those involved. No fatalities were reported in the available updates.
Police Say Driver Tried to Leave the Scene
According to METRO Police, the driver of another vehicle hit the METRO bus. Police said that driver then attempted to flee the scene.
The driver was later taken into custody by the Houston Police Department, METRO Police said.
Officials did not immediately say what charges the driver may face. Investigators also did not release details about what led to the crash.
The wreck caused an emergency response along Almeda Road as police and firefighters worked at the scene. Drivers in the area likely faced delays while crews assisted injured passengers and cleared the roadway.
Injury Reports Differ by Agency
The early injury numbers showed differences between fire and transit police reports. Fire officials said seven people were transported to hospitals.
METRO Police said nine passengers reported injuries, but only one passenger was hospitalized. The agency described that passenger’s injuries as non-life-threatening.
That difference may reflect people from other vehicles, precautionary transports or separate agency reporting. Officials had not provided a full explanation as of the latest available reports.
In crashes involving buses and several vehicles, injury counts can change as investigators confirm who was treated at the scene and who went to a hospital.
Houston Transit Safety Questions Continue
The crash adds to safety concerns around busy Houston roadways and public transit corridors. METRO buses often travel through high-traffic areas where sudden lane changes, speeding and distracted driving can raise risks.
Authorities have not said whether speed, impairment or distraction played a role in Thursday’s crash.
METRO Police and Houston police are expected to review the circumstances of the wreck. Investigators may use witness statements, vehicle damage and nearby traffic cameras to determine what happened.
Public transit crashes can affect more than the people inside the vehicles. They can also disrupt nearby traffic, bus routes and emergency response times.
What Happens Next
Houston police had the driver in custody after the crash, according to METRO Police. More information may be released once investigators complete their initial review.
Anyone who saw the crash or has useful information should contact the appropriate law enforcement agency. Official updates from METRO Police or HPD should be used for the latest details.
The Almeda Road METRO bus crash remains under investigation. The main public takeaway is clear: several people were hurt, one bus passenger was hospitalized, and police say the driver accused of hitting the bus tried to leave before being taken into custody.
This story comes from our news partner ABC13 Houston.