Charlotte, NC : One person died and fifteen others injured in accident involving Charlotte Area Transit System bus near the John Belk Freeway/I-277 ramp on Monday, Sep 28, 2015

One person was killed and fifteen others were injured in an accident involving a Charlotte Area Transit System (CATS) bus Monday.

A preliminary investigation shows the pickup truck that went through a red light and collided with the CATS bus may have been experiencing brake failure, police say.

The accident happened around 5 p.m. at the intersection of 3rd and McDowell Streets near the John Belk Freeway/I-277 ramp. Officials said a 1987 Ford F150 was coming off of John Belk and had a red light.

The Ford swerved left around other vehicles that were stopped at the light and went into the intersection where it collided with CATS bus number 2115, officials say. The CATS bus was traveling through a green light when it was hit, swiping a 2013 Lexus IS250.

The driver of the pickup truck was struck on the driver's side by the bus and then transported to Carolinas Medical Center where they later died.

The driver of the bus and a passenger in the pickup truck were taken to the hospital with minor injuries, and thirteen passengers on the bus were taken to Carolinas Medical Center with minor injuries. The driver of the Lexus was not injured.

"The Ford F150 may have experienced a braking system failure prior to the collision," police said Monday. They do not believe alcohol was a contributing factor.

Crews closed the intersection, as well as the ramp from the outer loop of I-277 onto 3rd street, while they worked the scene.

Source:

Brake failure possible cause in deadly crash involving CATS bus