01:28 PM CST on Sunday, January 22, 2006

From 11 News Staff Reports

Click to watch video

Metro Transit Authority confirmed that a woman was hit by a Metro bus Friday night at about 6:45 p.m.

KHJOU-TV

A woman was struck by a Metro bus in a crosswalk near downtown Friday evening.

The woman, believed to be about 43 years old, had her legs crushed in the accident.

According to Metro, she was in the crosswalk when the accident occurred.

"Before I yelled out, it was too late," said Kato Ortega, "I don't know what the hell the bus driver was doing. He just kept going and he could have slowed down or something. He didn't slow down, he just ran right over her." He said he tried to warn the bus driver that a woman was crossing the street

One passenger said the driver had a green light, but never used his brakes as he made a turn towards downtown.

"He's telling us that he didn't see her, and like I told him, we seen her and everybody else seen her. How can you not see her already half-way, you know, off the sidewalk?" said a female passenger.

Metro said the driver, Romaine Alexander, had an accident two years ago, but no one was hurt.

This time, though, we're told that the woman who was walking home could lose both her legs.

Metro is conducting an investigation and looking into claims by a passerby that the driver was on his cell phone. Also, as investigators routinely do, they will check for drugs and alcohol.

The woman was taken to Ben Taub Hospital and was undergoing emergency surgery.