COLUMBIA — Two COMET buses collided in downtown Columbia on April 16, injuring one passenger.
The incident occurred at approximately 11:30 a.m. at the intersection of Assembly and Richland Streets. Both buses were traveling northbound in the 1600 block of Assembly Street when the first bus stopped for a traffic signal. The second bus rear-ended it, according to Columbia Police Deputy Chief Melron Kelly.
A total of 12 passengers were aboard the two buses at the time of the collision. One individual was transported to the hospital with minor injuries. Despite visible damage to one bus, which included a smashed windshield, neither vehicle required towing.
The COMET operates 34 fixed routes across Richland County, serving over 3.8 million passengers annually. It is funded through an intergovernmental agreement among Richland County and the cities of Columbia and Forest Acres, as well as Lexington County.