PALM BEACH COUNTY, Fla. — A Palm Tran bus hit and killed a passenger Tuesday morning west of Lake Worth Beach, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said.
The wreck happened at South Military Trail and Melaleuca Lane.
According to a Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office crash report, Denis Onyshchenko, 34, of Greenacres, was a passenger on the bus but appeared "out of it," the driver said.
After Onyshchenko got off the bus at South Military Trail and Melaleuca Lane, he "bent down in front of the right rear tire," causing the bus to drive over Onyshchenko's head, the crash report said.
Onyshchenko was pronounced dead at the scene.
Aerial video from WPTV Chopper 5 showed the bus stopped next to a curb with red caution tape blocking off part of a sidewalk.
The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office is investigating the crash.
Latavius Henderson said he knows the man who was killed. He said he had just talked to him yesterday.
"Yesterday I was getting off work, I had tip money. So, I had made good tip money like nine dollars in tips. I just gave him $5," Henderson said. "The last words I told him was, 'God bless you,' and he told me 'that'll work.' That's the last thing I remember telling him."
Evan Henderson, the senior manager of public relations for Palm Tran, released the following written statement to WPTV about Tuesday's fatal crash:
"We are extremely saddened concerning today’s accident that resulted in the death of one of our passengers. Palm Tran is cooperating with PBSO as we continue our internal investigation.
We are extending our prayers to the passengers, their families and all those affected."
Routes for Palm Tran cover all of Palm Beach County from Jupiter, Boca Raton to the Glades. Palm Tran has 31 routes, nearly 3,000 stops, a 143-vehicle fleet with over 28,000 daily riders.
