Photo appears to show JTA bus caught under railroad arm

JTA: Bus driver 'violated no protocols,' but driver's status changed

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A photo taken by a News4Jax viewer appears to show a San Marco railroad crossing arm on top of a stopped Jacksonville Transportation Authority bus, but JTA said the bus driver "violated no protocols."

The viewer, who asked to remain anonymous, said the bus got caught under an arm of the railroad crossing on Hendricks Avenue near Nira Street about 5 p.m. Thursday. It's unclear how long the bus was there or whether any damage was done.

“I hope this does bring attention to JTA, and I hope their drivers take a little bit more heat to follow the traffic laws to ensure everybody that travels on those buses are safe," the viewer said.

News4Jax shared the photo with a JTA spokesperson, who issued the following response on Thursday:

“Thank you for bringing this to our attention. The safety and security of our customers, employees and other drivers is our top priority. We are looking into this and will speak to the bus operator to find out what happened.”

The next day, the spokesperson told the News4Jax I-TEAM that “given the angle of this crossing … the bus operator had to pass that white line in order to get an unobstructed view of the tracks,” and that “the operator violated no protocols.”

The spokesperson also said that pending an administrative review, the bus operator will stay on “hold off status,” which essentially means the driver cannot get behind the wheel right now, because the driver didn't immediately report the incident.

The spokesperson added JTA will be handling this matter internally.

The photo was taken less than a week after Jeanie Rozar was run over and killed by a JTA bus on Saturday. Friends and colleagues held a vigil Monday in her memory at the site of the accident.

The CEO of JTA announced in a workshop Thursday that the agency has reiterated safety training.


About the Authors:

Corley Peel is a Texas native and Texas Tech graduate who covered big stories in Joplin, Missouri, Tulsa, Oklahoma and Jacksonville, Florida before returning to the Lone Star State. When not reporting, Corley enjoys hot yoga, Tech Football, and finding the best tacos in town.

Kelly Wiley, an award-winning investigative reporter, joined the News4Jax I-Team in June 2019.