TARTA driver cited for Erie St. mishap

4/19/2008

A TARTA bus collided with a vehicle yesterday on Erie Street in downtown Toledo when a driver of the bus tried to maneuver around a stopped bus, police said. No one was hurt.

The moving bus was northbound on Erie near Jackson Street about 8 a.m. when its driver, Franklin Bateman, 56, attempted to change lanes and go around a bus that was stopped, police said.

The SUV driven by Shannon Foster, 19, was alongside the bus and tried to avoid a collision by braking. Instead, her SUV skidded into the rear tires of the stopped bus and then was hit by the bike rack on Mr. Bateman's bus, police said.

Police cited Mr. Bateman for improper change of course.