A 69-year-old man died early Friday after being struck by an MTA bus on Staten Island and the driver of the vehicle was removed from work while officials investigate what happened, sources said.
The pedestrian was trying to cross Platinum Avenue y Forest Hill Road at 4:30 a.m. when the MTA bus hit the man and continued down the road, police and city transportation officials said.
Responders to the scene found the man unconscious and pronounced him dead. He was later identified as Patrick Varriale of Staten Island.
A preliminary investigation by city officials determined the 52-year-old bus driver did not remain at the scene, but was identified a short time later and questioned by authorities.
The sources said that the video recorded from the bus operating the SIM10 line was given to investigators.
“This was a tragic incident in which we are fully cooperating with the New York Police Department’s Collision Investigation Squad,” said MTA Bus Company Acting President Frank Annicaro.
–
