This is tragic. I used to work for the City DOT and I must give some credit to the attempts to make Martin Luther King Boulevard safer for pedestrians. Over the years, signal adjustments have been made to provide longer signal phases for crossing pedestrians. Personally, I don't think enough has been done but I also sympathize with the DOT - it is likely that the same people who complain about crossing the street on foot also complain about having to sit in traffic on their way to and from work. Providing longer pedestrian signal phases comes at the expense of the driving public. The driving public votes (and there are a lot of them) and that influences the decisions made by our leaders. What do the people really want?

I THINK MAYBE THIS NEEDS TO REALLY BE LOOKED INTO,THESE BUS DRIVERS ARE REALLY OUT OF CONTROL I RIDE THE BUSES SO I KNOW,IVE SEEN THEM CUT CARS OFF,PULL OFF AND SEE SOMEONE COMING FOR THE BUS AND EVEN SEE PEOPLE ON THE BUS STOP AND THEY ARE SUPPOSE TO STOP BUT JUST KEEP GOING THESE BUS DRIVERS ARE REALLY RUDE AND IGNORANT

I really wish there was a pedestrian overpass between the state center building and the hospital.

The light is long and workers impatient for lunch or trying to get back to office will often dart between cars (many of which are speeding). If you don't finish crossing in time the tiny median on MLK is an awful place to wait with cars racing by.

The buses ARE out of control. I live ON Frederick Rd in Catonsville and the buses WHIP through here. Then on Ingleside I was driven into the opposite, opposing one lane traffic by an MTA that cut in front of me cause THEIR lane was a turn only lane. The driver of this current and tragic incident 'SHOULD" have been paying better attention. Thanks for reading and sharing!

It was not an MTA bus.

Bolt Bus?
COMMENT: Not confirmed yet.

I use the exact crosswalk 10 times a week. The light is extremely long, encouraging people to try and run across, the stop lights are mounted very high and when they turn red many motorists don't seem to see them. It is actually safer to cross against a green. I have personally seen cars run reds there 30 or more times, although this wasn't the case in the bus accident. With the amount of traffic and people in area and lack of crossing areas, the entire crosswalk needs to be modified.
There should also be red light running enforcement at this area to teach people rushing out of the city to slow down at crosswalks.

What I have to say is not directed at this person or the bus driver that was involved. This was a unnecessary, sad and tragic event either way.

I will agree that some bus drivers appear to be out of control with their speed and lack of concern for the ridership on and off the busses. However, I can say that many pedestrians suffer from a similar lack of intellect. Can you tell me how many times you have seen a pedestrian step out in the road (at or not at a crosswalk) when the traffic had the right of way? How often I am shocked that there are not more injuries or accidents as a result of such misguided judgements. I've seen pregnant women, women tugging children, and a variety of folks crossing when the red hand is clearly lit and traffic is clearly moving in their direction. The rules of the road are clear on this matter - the cars have the right of way when the light is red and so is the crosswalk signal. If you have the little white figure its all good, but when you don't it is not good. And the above case illustrates that.

Before we claim that the driver "should" have been paying attention, let's remember none of us were there and can't vouche for his situation and abilities. I am certain the driver will be haunted by this the rest of his life. My heart breaks for him, the pedestrian and their families. (Also, it should be noted-from someone who WAS there-that the pedestrian cut out from between a hole torn in that fence on the median, without looking, and was wearing headphones).

Imagine this poor bus driver having to be involved in this accident with someone stepping out in front of them.

The investigation said that even though he was in a crosswalk he was crossing against the light. I think a lot of pedestrians think just because they're in a crosswalk they have the right of way even if the light is green. A lot of other cities the pedestrian will get a ticket for that, not in this crappy city.

I pass through that area all the time as a driver. It is often scary, and there are a lot of pedestrians. Why can't there be a pedestrian bridge? How hard could it be to make a way for people to walk over the traffic safely? Win/win?

Yes! its an unfortunate incident. I work at preston and usually get my lunch from across the same cross walk. It is a very dangerous place. Cars are flying over the speed limit and pedistrains have to wait forever. I urge the state government through your channel to make that cross walk a safe place. I believe there should be a a bridge or proper signal. Please be aware that a lot of state employees cross that road during lunch time. I hope baltimore sun publishes an other report on this incident and emphasis on city goverment to make public safety their top priority.

I agree about the comments on the buses in the city. The city bus drivers (regardless of whether they are responsible for this or not) are dangerous to other drivers and pedestrians. They cut people off and constantly run traffic lights as well as contribute to gridlock.

This accident occurred prior to 3:00 p.m. as I saw the ambulance, police & the bus, including a crowd of people when I was leaving for lunch at 11:45 a.m.

This is not an ordinary crosswalk. There are thousands of people, state workers, hospital workers, students, residents of both Bolton Hill and Mount Vernon, on either side who have to cross the boulevard at least twice a day. To say that cars should rule is totally irrational, as everyone eventually gets out of their car and walks the street, as do their children. The light takes a long time to change, isn't coordinated with the lights at Eutaw or Howard, and then, the cars don't stop for their red light. They just completely disregard it. When pedestrians know the traffic situation of MLK, what is the point of waiting for a white crossing signal when it is just as dangerous to cross then as to jaywalk? We have cameras all over the city. Baltimore City needs to put up cameras so that drivers stop for their red light, then pedestrians will wait for their green light.

This story is a clear example of the Sun's inability to correctly tell facts. It's not hard to figure out who owned the bus it says "BOLT" in big letters on both sides. Also as stated before the ambulances were there before 3pm. This is a Darwin award plain and simple if it is true that the guy went into the road without looking both ways while listening to music. The facts about the bus are very easy to get (a 5 year old can read the word Bolt). Makes me wonder what else the Sun screwed up (when the facts are harder to get).

COMMENT: The police would not confirm who owned the bus, and the company has not responded to an inquiry. The Sun makes every effort to verify facts before reporting them. Was the commenter an eyewitness?

This intersection is very confusing and dangerous. In many cases cars, buses and trucks will run the red-light; some drivers seem to be confused by the red-light while others just blatantly ignore the red signal. I’ve even witnessed drivers honking and yelling at pedestrians, even when they have the right-of-way. On the other hand, I’ve seen pedestrians walk right into on-coming traffic.

I work at the state center and would like to see some action as soon as possible. A good start may be placing a traffic control officer, at both sides of the street, during AM and PM rush hours, while coming up with a permanent solution

The intersection at MLK is terrible. Cars regularly disregard the red light when it chages, trying to slip on through. When I'm given 15 seconds to get across MLK, its ridiculous that the City isn't more vigilant in enforcing these motorists and their sense of entitlement toward the streets. I think a nice chunk of the budget deficit could be plugged with traffic enforcement alone!

Everything at the bottom is a reflection of the top.

I have been driving pass that spot for the last 10 years and often I have had to brake hard to avoid striking a pedestrian crossing against the light. They should close the crosswalk and the "hole" in the fence and force pedestrians to cross at a proper corner.

Darwin Award.. Usually they just want the insurance money. He just went too far

It was definitely a Bolt bus. I saw the aftermath as I was headed through there on the way home yesterday. The bus was even at a slight angle in the lane where it was making me wonder if the driver attempted to swerve before he hit the pedestrian. Either way, a totally preventable "accident" if the pedestrians would follow the signals there and not try to weave their way through traffic to save a few seconds/minutes.

State Center seems to be a dangerous place. A friend of mine works around there and has been attacked at knifepoint, chased by would be muggers, almost run over numerous times when trying to cross the streets there , constantly having problems with the MTA system as well as the light rail and Tuesday found the MTA bus driver yelling at a guy to get off the bus since it was the end of the line. The guy was dead. Nobody even noticed. No wonder no one wants to work or live in the city. You can't rely on public transportation except to rely on it to strand you in an unsafe area. Walking around and crossing streets means taking your life in your hands.

This intersection is lethal. The alternative intersection, at Eutaw and MLK, is crazy. Cars run red lights, they turn illegally instead of waiting to yield (north bouth Eutaw) almost running oncoming cars and pedestrians over. Police are often nearby but do not notice. This entire intersection needs revamping, especially with the new State Center coming. It is a serious barrier between BOlton Hill / Mt Vernon and Seton Hill for pedestrian and vehicular traffic. Between that intersection and the one at Eutaw and Centre street (with NO pedestrian signals) it only makes me think that the city is spending way too much money on projects that don't improve the quality of life or safety.