CTA bus and several cars involved in accident on Chicago’s south side

CHICAGO (CBS) – A CTA bus was involved in a multi-vehicle crash in the Bridgeport neighborhood on the city’s south side Monday morning.

According to CTA, the accident occurred near the intersection of 25th Street and Halsted Street. Because of the accident, parts of 35th Street and Halsted Street were closed for some time, and buses on route 35 were also temporarily rerouted.

Surveillance footage showed the bus lurching back and forth, jumping a curb and striking a light pole. The bus also struck a tree, bike racks and the side of a building before colliding with several cars.

“For a moment, it was pure chaos. There was smoke everywhere,” said Kenan Slade, who witnessed the accident and lives nearby. He said his building shook when it looked like the light pole had hit his fire escape.

Videos posted on the Citizen app showed the aftermath of the crash, with several vehicles, some with significant damage, along Halsted north of 35th Street. Among them was a Volkswagen with its rear tire resting on the curb and several pieces of debris scattered on the road.

A CTA bus was also seen right next to another car, which it apparently hit. The bus also hit a building, damaging its facade. Slade, who lives in the building, said the impact shook the building and woke up his neighbor.

The ground was littered with broken glass and city workers had to remove pieces from the roof of the bus that looked like parts of the light pole.

The videos also showed at least one person who appeared to be injured and was being cared for by two other people.

A witness told CBS 2 that the driver of the CTA bus spoke to police after the collision.

The cause of the accident was unclear and authorities did not provide any information on the number of injured.