Homeless man hit by Lynn bus

LYNN – An MBTA bus struck a pedestrian at the corner of Washington and Liberty streets around noon Tuesday and dragged him for several feet before coming to a stop.A bloody shopping bag full of empty soda cans belonging to the victim was all that remained at the scene following the crash.Matera Wallace, a witness to the accident, was standing behind the victim, who she described as in his 50s, when he was hit.”From what I could tell, the MBTA bus had a green light and was trying to turn left onto Liberty Street when the pedestrian started crossing the street,” she said. “The bus driver didn’t see him and he was hit by the corner of the bus and went underneath.”Wallace, a Peabody resident and employee at the Lynn Shelter Association, said she and other onlookers screamed at the driver to capture her attention and to stop the bus, but it continued on for a few feet before coming to a halt.”When the bus hit him, it dragged him for a bit, but the wheel didn’t run over his body,” she said. “He didn’t make a sound the whole time, but when he was pulled out, he was dazed and his eye was just gushing blood.”According to Lynn Police, the victim, whose identity was not released, was transferred to Salem Hospital for a laceration on his forehead, while two passengers on board the bus were redirected.MBTA spokesman Joe Pesaturo said an investigation into the accident is underway.”Preliminary information indicates that the individual stepped into the right side of the bus as the bus started moving,” he said. “Following standard operating procedure, the driver was taken out of service pending further investigation.”Pesaturo said the name of the bus driver would only be released if she is charged or cited for the accident.Wallace said while she didn’t think the driver of the bus appeared to be shaken, she certainly was.”That could have been me,” she said. “I’m scared to cross the street now.”