Bus Crashes Into Downtown Miami Building, Gets Wedged Under Balcony

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MIAMI (CBSMiami) – A Miami-Dade transit bus crashed into a historic downtown Miami building Thursday night and ended up partially wedged under a balcony.

"I was closing the padlocks, close the store, and that moment I heard a big bang! And I saw the bus coming to me," said Eliso Peraza.

Peraza was lucky, but three others weren't – they were taken to Jackson Memorial Hospital.

"Had about three passengers on the bus, bus driver as well as a female passenger with the car," said Miami Fire Rescue Capt. Ignatius Carroll.

They are all expected to be okay.

According to authorities, it appeared that the bus driver attempted to avoid a collision with a red Honda near the site of the crash at NW 1st St. and North Miami Ave.

North Miami Avenue shut down for most of the evening.

But the major concern was the removal of the bus and the safety of the building.

Once the bus was pulled away, the damage was evident.

Three jewelry stores were damaged extensively along the sidewalks.

"I saw my wall and my wall is completely broken," said Roman Tisha.

Also broken, business for these three jewelry shops during the holiday season.

The city's fire technical rescue team evaluated the building and deemed it safe.

Citations are pending as the investigation continues.