MTA Bus Driver Hits Boom Lift in Midtown; Worker Dies
A southbound MTA bus driver hit the base of a boom lift at Fifth Avenue and East 51st Street, police said, causing worker Vladamir Cruz to fall and later die at Bellevue Hospital.
What We Know
At about 9:34 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2025, a southbound MTA bus driver on Fifth Avenue hit the base of a boom lift near East 51st Street, according to police and the official crash record. Gothamist, citing the NYPD, reported that the lift was protruding into the roadway and that 39-year-old Vladamir Cruz, a South Bronx resident, fell from it, suffered head and other injuries, and was pronounced dead at Bellevue Hospital. The official record lists one pedestrian death, no other injuries, a bus going straight ahead, and a parked boom lift. Police said the driver stayed at the scene and no arrests had been made as the investigation continued.
A bus driver hit the base of a lift on Fifth Avenue
The crash happened at about 9:34 p.m. on Jan. 26, 2025, at Fifth Avenue and East 51st Street in Midtown Manhattan. The official record lists a bus traveling south and going straight ahead, and a parked boom lift.
Gothamist reported, citing the NYPD, that a 44-year-old MTA bus driver was heading south when he hit the base of a boom lift that was protruding onto the roadway. Police said the worker on the lift fell, suffered a head injury and other injuries, and was taken to Bellevue Hospital, where he was pronounced dead.
The worker who died was identified as Vladamir Cruz
Police identified the man who died as Vladamir Cruz, 39, a resident of the South Bronx. The official record lists one pedestrian death and no other reported injuries.
The MTA said the bus was an M1 in service
An MTA spokesperson confirmed to Gothamist that the crash involved an M1 bus in service. The spokesperson said no passengers were reported injured and that passengers were transferred to another bus. The official record lists the other equipment involved as a 2022 JLG boom lift.
Records point to the lift position and list a pedestrian factor
Police told Gothamist that the base of the lift was protruding onto the roadway when the bus driver hit it. The official record also lists pedestrian or bicyclist error or confusion for the person who died, while separately recording the person as not in the roadway.
The driver stayed at the scene
Police said the driver stayed at the scene and that no arrests had been made as the investigation continued.
Where
5th Ave & E 51st St, Manhattan