1 killed, 16 injured in 2nd fatal CATS wreck in a week

One person was killed and 16 were injured Monday when a city bus collided with a truck and a car during a rush hour wreck in uptown Charlotte, authorities said. It was the second death involving CATS bus crashes in less than a week.

Charlotte-Mecklenburg police haven’t said what they believe caused Monday’s crash, which remained under investigation. The names of the drivers, the person who died and those injured had not been released late Monday.

Two of the injured people had very serious injuries, according to paramedics.

The victims were taken to Carolinas Medical Center and Novant Health Presbyterian Medical Center for treatment.

The bus struck the driver’s side of a blue Ford F-150 around 5 p.m. and parts of the engine were exposed in the mangled wreckage.

The investigation lasted through rush hour, with police closing off parts of Third Street and nearby ramps to Interstate 277 during Monday’s rush hour.

On Sunday, 74-year-old Charles Adkins died from injuries he sustained after his bicycle was struck by a bus on Statesville Road on Wednesday morning. Investigators said he turned into the path of the city bus. The bus driver unsuccessfully swerved to avoid Adkins, police say.

Bus drivers are tested for drugs and alcohol after every crash, said CATS spokeswoman Krystel Green, but the results from the drivers involved in the two deadly crashes were not available Monday. Both drivers will be on paid leave until the CMPD investigations are completed.

This story was originally published September 28, 2015 at 5:48 PM with the headline "1 killed, 16 injured in 2nd fatal CATS wreck in a week."