Deadly Crashes Highlight Reckless Driving Epidemic in Milwaukee
Two deadly crashes involving Milwaukee County Transit System (MCTS) buses within a week have underscored the alarming prevalence of reckless driving in the city.
The latest incident occurred at 35th and Wisconsin Avenue on Saturday night, claiming the life of a passenger in a car that collided with a bus traveling eastward. The driver and another passenger in the car sustained serious injuries, while seven bus passengers also suffered various degrees of harm.
This tragic event follows another fatal crash involving an MCTS bus late Thursday night, in which a speeding car struck the bus, killing its driver and injuring seven others, including the bus driver who extinguished a subsequent fire using a fire extinguisher.
MCTS leaders have expressed grave concern over the surge in reckless driving crashes involving buses, reporting a 40% increase this year compared to the previous year.
Celia Jackson, a founding member and volunteer with the Coalition for Safe Driving MKE, emphasized the need to address the underlying factors contributing to this epidemic. She highlights disparities and lack of attention to certain community areas as potential underlying causes.
Jackson stresses the importance of fostering a sense of community value and equitable support to combat the root causes of deadly driving scenarios. While calls for safer streets by city officials have yet to yield desired results, advocates maintain the need for continued efforts to promote awareness and accountability.
