A Metro Transit bus and a passenger vehicle collided Wednesday morning in downtown St. Paul, causing the bus to hit the Alliance Bank Center building, transit police said.
The accident happened shortly after 9 a.m. near the intersection of Cedar Street and 6th Street. The driver of the passenger vehicle was trapped in his vehicle.
Metro Transit spokesman John Siqveland said several people were transported from the scene to area hospitals — including the bus driver and at least one person from the passenger vehicle.
"Thankfully none of [the injuries] were life-threatening at this point," Siqveland said. "Neck and back injuries were what were reported, two from the pickup truck, the driver of the bus and a few customers from aboard the bus were all transported."
Tressa Duckworth said her husband is a roofer and was assigned to work at a construction site at Cedar and 6th streets. She said another worker told her that her husband, Bernard Duckworth, was riding in the pickup truck when the vehicles collided happened.
"All he said was, 'We just got hit by a bus, your husband was in a car, they got to cut him out of the car,' and that was it," Duckworth said. "I just left work and came straight out here. I just hope my husband's OK, that's all. I'm just concerned."
All buses that use Cedar have been temporarily diverted while the accident is investigated and cleared.
The bus driver will be tested for drugs and alcohol, which is standard procedure.