PIKESVILLE — A city bus struck a building on Reisterstown Road Wednesday evening, setting off a chain of collisions that left at least 33 people transported to area hospitals and prompted a major emergency response.
What happened and how it affected residents
The Maryland Transit Administration (MTA) bus collided with a structure in the 1500 block of Reisterstown Road shortly after 6 p.m., according to the Baltimore County Fire Department. Emergency crews declared a second-alarm mass casualty incident as responders worked through multiple wrecked vehicles, a rolled car and downed power lines.
First responders worked to free people trapped in vehicles. The fire department said one person was trapped on the bus and another had to be extricated from a car. By 6:47 p.m., officials reported a critical patient had been removed from the scene.
"The road was like a 'war scene,'" Baltimore County Fire Chief Joseph W. Dixon told radio station WTOP.
Response and injuries
The Baltimore County Fire Department said more than 30 people were taken to hospitals; at least one of those patients was in critical condition. The agencies on scene included the Baltimore County Fire Department and the Baltimore County Police Department. The MTA also was involved, and an investigation into the cause of the chain of collisions remains ongoing.
- At least 33 people transported to area hospitals
- One patient reported in critical condition
- Multiple vehicles involved, including a rollover; downed power lines complicating response
Scale of the emergency response
Officials said responders were numerous. The fire department reported that over 100 first responders assisted at the scene as crews triaged patients, cleared hazards and secured the area. Local hospitals received the injured; authorities advised the public to avoid the area while emergency operations were underway.
| Item | Reported figure |
|---|---|
| People transported to hospitals | 33 |
| Patients in critical condition (at least) | 1 |
| First responders on scene | Over 100 |
Investigation and agency statements
Chief Dixon said investigators are working to determine what triggered the initial collision and the subsequent chain reaction. The Baltimore County Fire Department, Baltimore County Police Department and the MTA did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment, according to published reports.
Residents traveling in or near Pikesville should expect possible traffic disruptions on Reisterstown Road while crews continue investigative and cleanup operations. Anyone with information about the crash is asked to contact Baltimore County Police.
Further updates will follow as agencies release additional findings and officials confirm the conditions of all patients transported from the scene.
Reporting from Pikesville.
