A 39-year-old woman from North Adelaide was killed after being struck by an Adelaide Metro bus on King William Road and Victoria Drive in the Adelaide CBD on Wednesday, April 1, 2026, around 5 PM. The incident, described as a "horrific" crash by police, marks the third pedestrian death on South Australian roads this year, with two other pedestrians also injured in separate incidents. The bus driver, who allegedly left the scene initially, returned approximately 40 minutes later to speak with SA Police and Major Crash investigators. The woman died at the scene, and no other injuries were reported. Road closures were in effect for about five hours following the collision. Police are appealing for witnesses or anyone with relevant information to come forward.
Police Cite Potential Pedestrian Action
Senior Constable Rebecca Stokes indicated that the woman may have been retrieving an item when the crash occurred. She acknowledged that many people witnessed the event and its immediate aftermath, urging those who have not yet spoken to police to make contact. Counselling services are available through SA Police for those affected. The woman's death is the 30th life lost on South Australian roads this year, including two pedestrians.
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Broader Pattern of Bus-Related Fatalities
This event in Adelaide is not an isolated incident involving buses and pedestrians. In Clayton, a 52-year-old woman was killed earlier this month after being struck by a Metro Transit bus in a marked crosswalk. Investigators in that case are working to determine the cause and circumstances.
Similarly, in Chicago, a CTA bus reportedly hit and killed a woman attempting to board the vehicle near 70th Street and South Shore Drive last December. Witnesses suggested the woman appeared to have slipped before being struck.
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Further back, a 50-year-old woman died in September last year after a crash involving a Pittsburgh Regional Transit bus in Spring Hill. The bus was towed for investigation. In Galway, Ireland, another woman was pronounced dead at the scene after being struck by a bus on the Dublin Road. Separately, in Baltimore County, a school bus, though not officially a Baltimore County Public Schools bus, was involved in a collision that resulted in a woman's death. In that instance, no children were on board, and the driver was uninjured.