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NASHUA, N.H. (WMUR) — A passenger ran to the front of a Nashua Transit System bus and hit the brakes Monday morning after the driver suffered a medical emergency and died.
The driver became incapacitated just after 11 a.m. on Burke Street in Nashua. Passenger Lizette Markham ran to the front of the bus and stepped on the brakes.
“It was really a little bit crazy,” she said. “I didn’t know what to do. I just wanted to do the right thing, to help people and help myself. I didn’t want to die.”
She said she didn’t know how to turn the bus off, so she kept her foot on the brakes until help arrived.
“I jumped out of my seat and I put my foot on the brake, and I did not know how to turn the bus off,” she said. “I was really scared, and everyone was really nervous, and I just kept my foot on the brake until the police came.”
Markham was one of eight passengers on the bus at the time. Another passenger called 911.
“So I’m trying to calm everybody down as I’m on the phone with 911,” Ronnie Bryant said. “I told them I didn’t know exactly what happened, but the bus was up on the sidewalk and the fire hydrant was down.”
The bus struck a parked van and a fire hydrant, but it does not appear any passengers were hurt.
“I’m surprised. What happened?” said Roman Lekhi, the owner of the van, of his initial reaction. “Then, I seen the bus.”
“Well, I think it’s scary. and my thoughts and prayers go out to the driver and his family,” Bryant said.
Officials with the Nashua Transit System said they’re thankful that no one else was injured.
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