Charlotte, NC — July 22, 2025, one person was injured in a bus accident at about 6 a.m. at the corner of East Third Street and South Brevard Street.

Authorities said a Charlotte Area Transit System bus hit a pedestrian near the intersection.

The pedestrian, whose name has not been made public yet, was hospitalized with life-threatening injuries after the collision, according to authorities.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Uptown Charlotte crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary

When people hear that a city bus hit a pedestrian in Uptown Charlotte, the first question that often comes to mind is, “How does something like that happen?” After all, pedestrians generally don’t walk into moving buses. So was the pedestrian in the crosswalk? Did the bus have a green light? Was visibility poor? Did the driver see the pedestrian at all? None of those answers are in the public reports yet, but they matter enormously.

At this point, we only know that the crash happened around 6 a.m., a time when it may still be dark depending on weather and street lighting. We also know it happened downtown, at a controlled intersection, East Third and South Brevard, where there are likely to be traffic signals, cameras and plenty of foot traffic. But what we don’t know is whether the bus had a green light or was making a turn. We also don’t know if the pedestrian was crossing with the signal or had already been in the street when the bus approached.

These are not trivial details; they go directly to who may bear responsibility for what happened.

The Charlotte Area Transit System, like any public transit agency, has a legal duty to operate its vehicles with heightened care, especially around pedestrians. If a pedestrian was in a marked crosswalk and had the right of way, then the question becomes: Why didn’t the driver stop in time? Was the driver distracted? Were they fatigued from a long shift? Was the bus speeding through a yellow or red light?

We don’t yet have those answers, but they can be found with the right investigation. Many city buses are equipped with forward-facing dash cams, and possibly inward-facing cameras that record the driver. That footage — along with GPS data, stop logs and any electronic braking records — can clarify not just what happened, but why.

I've seen cases where camera footage clearly showed a pedestrian crossing with the signal, only for a turning bus to clip them while the driver was looking elsewhere. In other cases, footage showed the pedestrian stepped into the street mid-block. Either scenario is possible here, but no one will know until the data is reviewed.

Key Takeaways:

• It’s not clear whether the pedestrian was in the crosswalk or had the right of way when struck.
• Critical evidence may include dash cam footage, GPS data and driver-facing cameras from the bus.
• Questions remain about driver attention, visibility and potential failure to yield.
• Transit agencies have a duty to operate with heightened caution around pedestrians.
• Full accountability depends on obtaining and reviewing all available video and electronic records.