Boy dies after collision with Vancouver city bus

VANCOUVER, Wash. - An 11-year-old boy whose arm was severed when his bike hit a city bus has died of his injuries.

"We drove by and saw the bike under the bus and it's like, 'Oh man,' " said Colin Haug, who lives near 27th Street and Main Street city where the accident happened Saturday afternoon.

According to investigators, the bus was turning left from Main onto 27th when somehow the boy crashed into the side of the bus and then ended up underneath it. Not only was his arm severed in the accident but he also had other injuries. He died at the hospital.

The boy has since been identified as Benjamin Fulwiler. He lived in the neighborhood and was out riding his bike (with a helmet on). His mother, who was coming home at the time, saw it all happen.

The boy's aunt called him a wonderful little boy who was always full of smiles. She said his parents understand that the bus driver is going through a hard time too, but they do think someone will need to be held accountable. Right now, though, everyone is just grieving, she said.

Neighborhood resident Donna Worthy told us that Clark County's C-TRAN service, which operates the bus, recently changed that particular route. She said it previously did not turn on 27th Street.

"Even if someone was riding a bike down here, they wouldn't expect a bus, probably, would take a left there," Worthy said. "It's one of the little streets around here."

C-TRAN has placed the driver on paid leave until the investigation is complete. The transit organization's CEO said in a statement "all of us at C-TRAN are saddened by such a regrettable accident."