Motorcyclist injured in collision with city bus downtown
A man was sent to hospital after his motorcycle collided with a city bus at the corner of Albert Street and 12th Avenue on Thursday morning.
The bus, which was headed southbound on Albert Street, was making a left turn onto 12th Avenue when it and the motorcycle collided.
Witnesses at the scene report the motorcyclist was travelling northbound on Albert at the time of the incident.
Grigorios Efthymiadis, a supervisor from Tierdon Glass Ltd. who was installing glass on the Sherwood building kitty-corner to the scene of the incident, said he was on a lift on the second floor when he saw the collision.
“He was (unconscious) for five minutes, leaning on the asphalt,” he said. “People were helping him right away.”
When the man regained consciousness, Efthymiadis said, he started screaming. His leg was “turned around” and “broken open.”
Another witness was just getting off the No. 9 bus in front of 241 Pizza at the same intersection and was waiting to cross the street when she also saw the collision.
“At first, shock kicks in. I was like, this is supposed to be a regular day, is this a joke?” said the woman, who works nearby and asked not to be identified. “(It) takes about a minute to snap out of that and be like ‘OK, this is real blood and this is an emergency.’ ”
The woman called 911 as cars started to park and come to the man’s aid.
“There was a lady constantly ... holding his head,” said the witness, who had to get up close to the man to relay information to the emergency operator.
After about five minutes, she said the man became conscious and starting screaming for help and saying he was in pain.
Efthymiadis and his crew helped block off the intersection with pylons. He said the female bus driver was visibly upset and crying.
Police were dispatched at 8:25 a.m. and could be seen taking photos and managing traffic in the area while investigating the collision. Several units remained at the scene and traffic was restricted.
Motorists were asked to avoid the area and choose an alternate route.
Officers have spoken to a number of witnesses, but anyone who may have additional information is encouraged to contact the Regina Police Service at 306-777-6500 or Crime Stoppers at 1-800-2228477 (TIPS).