Bus driver fatally strikes pedestrian on Forest Avenue
An Open Home
A driver of an eastbound bus struck and killed 72-year-old Leton Meyers near Veltman Avenue, the Daily News reported, in a Forest Avenue crash recorded at 4:17 p.m. on May 15, 2026.
Location reported in Open Data.
What We Know
A driver of an eastbound bus struck and killed 72-year-old Leton Meyers near Veltman Avenue, the Daily News reported. The newspaper identified it as an MTA S48 bus, while the crash record classifies the vehicle as a 2022 Nova Bus school bus. The official record places the collision on Forest Avenue at 4:17 p.m. on May 15, 2026. Accounts differ on the sequence: the Daily News said Meyers fell into the path of an approaching bus; Greater Belize, citing NYPD investigators, said he fell into the roadway as the bus pulled away from a stop and was struck by its rear tires. Police told the Daily News the driver continued east, stopped after being informed of the collision and was not arrested. Meyers' family remembered his welcoming home and sought answers from the MTA.
Reports differ on how Meyers entered the roadway
The Daily News, citing police, reported that Meyers fell into the path of an oncoming eastbound bus and was struck by its driver. Greater Belize, citing the NYPD Collision Investigation Squad, described a different sequence: as the bus pulled away from a stop, Meyers fell into the roadway and was struck by the rear tires.
The Daily News reported that Meyers died at the scene. It said the city medical examiner ruled that the cause of death was blunt-force trauma to the head and classified the death as an accident.
The crash was near Veltman Avenue
The official record places the crash on Forest Avenue at 4:17 p.m. on May 15, 2026. The Daily News located it near Veltman Avenue in Port Richmond and reported that Meyers had been on a routine grocery trip at a Stop & Shop near Forest Avenue. Greater Belize, citing NYPD investigators, described the crash location as a bus stop.
Sources describe the bus differently
The official crash record classifies the vehicle as a 2022 Nova Bus school bus traveling east. The Daily News identifies it as an MTA S48 bus. The sources give different vehicle descriptions.
The driver stopped after learning of the collision
The Daily News reported that the 43-year-old driver continued east after the collision, then stopped after being informed of it. The driver was not arrested.
Meyers was remembered for welcoming people into his home
Greater Belize reported that Meyers, 72, was born and raised in Burrell Boom, Belize, attended St. John's Technical School and later settled on Staten Island. He built a career as a technician at companies including Ricoh and Ikon. With his wife, Effie, he welcomed neighbors, friends, relatives, foster children and others needing support into their home. Effie said, "He wanted people to feel like family."
He is survived by Effie, their adult children Samantha and VaSeann, and their granddaughter Jaslene, Greater Belize reported. The family said it was seeking answers from the MTA, and Jaslene launched a fundraiser for funeral expenses.