Tempe police are investigating a fatal Tempe accident in which a Valley Metro bus passenger allegedly was dragged and abandoned after he tried to exit the bus Thursday morning near the intersection of Apache Boulevard and Price Road.
The passenger, John Holland, a transient man in his late 50s, exited the rear of the bus at the stop and was caught by the rolling bus tire and dragged 70 feet, said Sgt. Dan Masters, a Tempe police spokesman.
Several passengers who exited at the same time as the victim frantically tried to get the driver's attention to notify him a passenger was trapped under the bus as he was driving away.
"The driver said he got out, looked at the body, saw the body, radioed dispatch, got back in the bus and drove away," Masters said.
The driver, Jon Lemons, 43, of Buckeye, told police he called dispatch and then proceeded to a Tempe maintenance yard, where he was planning to take his break.
Police are waiting to examine the recorded call the driver made to dispatch.
Holland was pronounced dead at Scottsdale Osborn Healthcare at 9:20am, shortly after the accident.
Witnesses at the scene called in the bus number to police, who then contacted Valley Metro dispatch to see where the bus was headed.
Officers located the bus where it was stopped, at the Valley Metro maintenance facility a few blocks from the scene, to examine possible evidence on the tires and to administer a blood test that is standard in all fatal Arizona accidents.
The bus driver had no visible signs of impairment, according to officers on the scene. He was released after questioning.
Tempe police are investigating the incident as a possible hit and run and plan to ask the county attorney to review the case for possible charges against the driver.
Lemons works for ATC, a transit company contracted through Valley Metro.
ATC officials could not be reached for comment.
Reach the reporter at ian.schwartz@asu.edu.
