MIAMI – Miami police closed a portion of Southwest Eighth Street Monday after a pedestrian was struck and killed by a city trolley bus driver in Little Havana while apparently attempting to retrieve a bicycle.
Authorities closed Calle Ocho between Southwest 36th Avenue and Douglas Road around noon while they investigated the crash, which happened just outside of the BankUnited branch at 3650 SW Eighth St., just west of La Carreta restaurant.
Officials with the Miami Police Department asked drivers to avoid the area while they investigated the crash.
Police haven’t yet released the identity of the man killed, but police said he was in his 50s.
City officials said the man had just gotten off the trolley.
“It appears to be that he was trying to get a bicycle from off the (trolley’s) bracket,” city spokesperson Kenia Fallat said.
At some point, the driver hit him.
“As of what we know the driver is an outsourced employee, not a city of Miami employee when he crashed onto the pedestrian,” Fallat said. “What we know thus far is our traffic homicide detectives are investigating the case.”
According to a city database, Limousines of South Florida, a subsidiary of Transportation America, has operated the trolley system since 2012 and has a $51.6 million contract that expires at the end of 2026.
Authorities haven’t said if the driver will face any charges or discipline.
TRAFFIC ALERT: Due to an accident involving a pedestrian we have closed SW 8 Street between 36 and 37 Avenues. Please avoid this area. MV pic.twitter.com/d0O3a9GfcZ
— Miami PD (@MiamiPD) May 13, 2024