BOULDER, Colo. — The driver of a tour bus faces multiple charges after he allegedly sideswiped more than 30 cars in southwest Boulder on Wednesday evening.
The Boulder Police Department said the tour bus struck and sideswiped at least 32 cars along the north side of Pleasant Street, starting from the 900 block and going east to the 1200 block. The area is located within the University Hill neighborhood across from the University of Colorado Boulder campus.
Nobody was inside any of the cars. There were no injuries, police said.
"I was completely shocked, I was horrified — I couldn't imagine that someone had damaged so many cars, including my own so badly and just drove off," Zoelle Madison said.
Madison is a senior at CU Boulder and said her car was damaged in the ordeal.
"My back tire is completely flat, there is a huge dent in the back of my car and both of my lights and taillights are broken," she said. "I don't know much right now, unfortunately. I spoke with insurance this morning, and I'm going to have to pay a big deductible. Luckily, they'll cover most of the damage, but we'll also have to contact the bus company's insurance as well."
Boulder PD said Thursday morning it had identified the bus driver, and he was unaware that he had struck any vehicles.
The bus driver faces charges of multiple counts of a hit-and-run crash and careless driving.
According to Colorado court records pulled by Denver7, the 73-year-driver has pleaded guilty to at least four traffic violations since 2012.
Denver7 contacted the bus company for additional information, but a response has not been received.
Some CU Boulder students said they believed the roadway conditions on Pleasant Street contributed the sideswiping.
A spokesperson for the City of Boulder told Denver7 the 900 to 1200 block of Pleasant Street doesn't fall under the city's residential street plowing program.
"The residential street plowing program is funded from a 2013 voter-approved tax initiative that provides additional transportation funding from 2014 through 2030. Select streets were prioritized based on an analysis of residential street slopes. When the forecast calls for eight or more inches of snow or three days of temperatures below freezing, the city deploys trucks to plow residential streets in predetermined areas with steep slopes or a lot of shade (see map). This section of Pleasant Street does not fall under the program."
"That leaves our street like an ice-skating rink. It's dangerous to drive, it's dangerous to walk," said Eli Benjamin, whose car was also damaged by the tour bus. "I think the biggest thing is that this whole deal is a headache for everyone, it's a time consuming headache."
Anybody who's vehicle was struck is asked to contact Accident Report Specialist Ward at 720-601-4228 or WardS@bouldercolorado.gov with reference case number 22-11868.
