Phoenix, AZ — July 2, 2025, two women were injured following a bus accident at approximately 9:45 a.m. along 35th Avenue.
According to authorities, the accident took place in the vicinity of the 35th Avenue and Thomas Road intersection.
Details surrounding the accident remain scarce. Preliminary reports state that, for as yet unknown reasons, a collision took place between a bus and a passenger car.
A woman who had been a passenger in the motor vehicle reportedly suffered critical injuries due to the wreck and was transported to a local medical facility by EMS in order to receive necessary treatment. The woman who had been behind the wheel of the bus apparently may have been hurt, as well, and was also taken to a hospital for care.
Additional details pertaining to this incident—including the identities of the victims—are not available at this point in time. The investigation is currently ongoing.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
When a crash between a bus and a passenger vehicle leaves two women hospitalized—one with critical injuries—the public may want quick answers about who was at fault. But at this stage, what matters most is what each vehicle was doing in the moments before impact and whether either driver had a real opportunity to prevent the collision. In dense urban areas like 35th Avenue and Thomas Road, that analysis often involves more than just who had the green light.
One of the first things investigators will need to determine is whether either vehicle made an unexpected maneuver—such as a sudden lane change, turn across traffic, or stop in a live lane. Intersections are complex environments, and buses in particular take up more space, require longer to stop, and have more limited visibility than a standard car. If the driver of the passenger vehicle turned in front of the bus or crossed its path while misjudging speed or distance, that could explain the impact—but it doesn’t excuse a failure to react if there was time to do so.
That’s why physical evidence—like surveillance footage, dash cam video, or vehicle telematics—will be crucial. In past cases I’ve handled involving city buses, black box data has shown when the driver braked, how fast the bus was traveling, and whether evasive action was attempted. If that kind of evidence shows a delay in braking or a missed opportunity to swerve, investigators may look at whether distraction or fatigue played a role.
It’s also fair to examine whether route pressures affected the bus driver’s decision-making. City bus operators often run tight schedules in high-traffic corridors, and it’s not uncommon for a driver to push through a yellow light or try to squeeze through a congested intersection to stay on time. That kind of time pressure can lead to aggressive moves—even unintentionally.
On the flip side, if the car’s driver made a mistake that left the bus driver with no time or room to react, that changes the analysis significantly. That’s why assumptions won’t help here—only a full review of the evidence will.
Key Takeaways
- Investigators must determine how the bus and passenger vehicle came into conflict, especially in a busy intersection environment.
- Black box data and video footage will be essential in showing speed, braking effort, and driver reaction time.
- Both driver behavior and environmental factors—like traffic flow, timing pressure, or visibility—may have contributed to the collision.
- The role of route timing and operational demands on the bus driver should also be considered.
- Understanding who is responsible requires more than knowing who hit whom—it depends on whether either driver had a real chance to prevent the crash.
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