A tragic accident occurred in Downtown Houston on Friday morning when a City of Houston Human Resources employee, Damilola Matuluko, was run over and killed by a METRO bus while walking to work. The incident took place just after 7:30 a.m. as Matuluko was crossing Smith Street with the pedestrian signal’s permission.
According to Lt. Tim McClelland of METRO Police, video evidence suggests that Matuluko was legally crossing the street when the METRO bus, also heading south on Smith, turned left onto Rusk Street on a green light, striking and killing her. Investigators believe the bus driver should have yielded the right of way to Matuluko and waited for her to finish crossing before proceeding.
The bus driver involved in the accident is a contract employee working for Transdev Mobility, not a direct Houston METRO employee. Transdev has placed the driver on administrative leave, pending the conclusion of the investigation. As per standard procedure, the driver was immediately taken for drug and alcohol testing to check for any possible impairment.
Investigators from the Harris County District Attorney’s Office were also present at the scene to determine if the bus driver would face any charges in connection with the fatal accident.
METRO currently employs 432 contract bus drivers, with the number varying weekly. These drivers operate out of various facilities across the Houston area, with one location being operated by Transdev.
Matuluko had only recently joined the City of Houston HR Department in December 2023. In a statement, City of Houston HR Director Jane Cheeks expressed the department’s grief, saying, “Although Damilola had only been with the HR Department for a short time, she had become a beloved and impactful team member. She will be sincerely missed by her colleagues in the City of Houston.”
The tragic loss of Damilola Matuluko has left her colleagues and the City of Houston mourning, as authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal crosswalk accident involving the METRO bus.
Credit: ABC13 Houston
