OAKLAND PARK, FLA. (WSVN) - A pickup truck struck two people waiting at a bus stop on East Commercial Boulevard, Friday afternoon, according to the Broward Sheriff’s Office.
Officials said a pickup truck heading eastbound on the 1500 block of East Commercial Boulevard struck two men — including one sitting in a wheelchair — who were waiting for the bus on a bench. After striking the pedestrians, the truck crashed into a light pole.
Broward Sheriff’s Office Road Patrol and Oakland Park Fire Rescue responded to the scene at 1510 E. Commercial Blvd., just before 2 p.m.
Cellphone video of the aftermath captured the injured men on the ground. At one point, one of them said, “I can’t move my legs.”
“I really wanted to help him, but I knew if I touched him it could cause it to be worse,” said Natalie Levers, who works nearby. “I was just standing there, like, in shock. I couldn’t believe it, and I wanted do something, but I knew I couldn’t.”
The two pedestrians were transported to Broward Health North with injuries that are not considered life-threatening.
The driver of the pickup truck remained at the scene.
Ken Constantine, an employee at a nearby business, said the driver told him he became distracted trying to light a cigarette.
“When I walked over to [the driver], he, I think because he was in shock, he was brutally honest about, I guess, trying to light a cigarette and losing control of the car, not paying attention,” he said.
According to Oakland Park Fire Rescue, the truck was heading eastbound on Commercial Boulevard at the time of the crash.
“I walked up there, and I saw the guy on the side in his wheelchair,” said Jennifer Cassidy, who witnessed the aftermath. “Can you imagine the impact knocking that wheelchair off its base? ‘Cause, you know, those motorized wheelchairs have extremely heavy bases. And it’s just severed.”
Traffic homicide detectives also responded, and their investigation is underway.
Deputies shut down a portion of the road temporarily. It was later reopened.
Authorities continue to investigate.
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