Sept. 10 -- A rain-slicked road Sunday night was the scene as a JTA bus ended up partially hanging off an Interstate 95 median wall over Dunn Avenue, according to the Florida Highway Patrol.
The bus, driven by Holly L. Beasely, 34, was empty and heading south on the interstate just before 10 p.m. in rain when the mishap happened, the Highway Patrol said.
For unknown reasons, Beasley failed to maintain control of the bus and it went off the travel lanes, then hit the center median guardrail. The bus overturned on impact with the guardrail, then slid onto the top of the center median barrier wall.
The bus' tail ended up suspended over Dunn Avenue, in danger of falling onto the road below, the Highway Patrol said.
JTA spokeswoman Leigh Ann Rassler said their staff is also investigating the crash, and thanked troopers and firefighters who responded.
"The safety of our customers and operators is our number one priority," she said. "We are grateful that bus operator Hollie Beasley was not seriously injured and that no passengers were on board."
After the crash, the bus began to leak natural gas, which is used to power its engine. The bus was secured to prevent it from falling as both directions of I-95 were shut down, the Highway Patrol said. A wrecker pulled the bus to safety and the interstate was reopened early Monday.
Beasley, who was wearing a seat belt, received minor injuries as the incident remains under investigation, the Highway Patrol said.
___ (c)2018 The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Fla.) Visit The Florida Times-Union (Jacksonville, Fla.) at www.jacksonville.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
