Charlotte, NC : Pedestrian died, Greyhound bus driver charged after striking pole in uptown Charlotte on Wednesday morning, December 23, 2015

A Greyhound bus driver is charged after striking a pole that killed a pedestrian in uptown Charlotte Wednesday morning, officials say.

Talaysha Brown, 33, is charged with misdemeanor death by vehicle. Police say the Greyhound bus, driven by Brown, pulled out of the terminal going the wrong way on West Trade Street and struck a utility pole around 3:30 a.m.

The pole fell and struck 52-year-old James Robert Minter. Witnesses say the pole hit him on the head.

Officials say Brown didn't realize the bus hit the pole and continued her route to Atlanta, GA, with 9 passengers on board.

Minter was found lying on a sidewalk near the 600 block of W Trade Street with a head wound, officials say. Medic responded to the scene and pronounced him dead.

West Trade Street was shut down for hours before reopening around 7:30 a.m. No one on the bus was injured.

Brandon Hentz was smoking a cigarette outside the bus station when he said he heard a collision and found Minter lying on the ground.

“Actually I asked him if he was okay, but he didn’t say anything. His eyes were open, so that's why I asked him if he was okay,” Hentz said.

Hentz was still waiting for his bus to Chicago. He said he was having a hard time shaking the images he saw.

“His head was busted and blood was just gushing from his head. So then I ran back and told the people in the Greyhound station to call the police,” Hentz said.

Michael Snow said he was waiting for a friend across the street when he heard a loud crashing sound.

“It knocked the tree down, it knocked the man completely down, you heard the bus scrape. It kept going, it didn’t stop,” Snow said.

Police said Brown didn't realize she had struck the pole.

Hentz did not know Minter, but cannot help but think about any friends and family he leaves behind.

“It’s just so sad to see someone lose a family member around one of the most important holidays of the year,” Hentz said.

Greyhound would not comment on the allegations or provide information about Brown’s employment status or history. A spokesperson said the company is launching an internal investigation and cooperating with police.

Brown is due in court at 9 a.m. on December 24, according to online jail records.

Source :

Greyhound bus driver charged after striking pole that killed man