Greenwich Man Critically Injured After Motorist Cuts Off Bus

Police are looking for the driver of a Volkswagen car who cut off a bus Friday afternoon, causing a passenger on the bus to suffer a critical head injury after the bus driver slammed on the brakes to avoid a collision.

Police said a Milford Transit bus driver was traveling east on the Post Road, by the intersection of Reef Road, in the right-hand lane about 12:35 p.m. when he slowed down for a bus stop. The driver of a Volkswagen, also heading east, switched from the left to right lanes to make a right onto Reef Road and cut the bus off, police said.

Police said a passenger on the bus, a Greenwich man in his late 60s whose name was not released, was standing inside the bus, waiting to get off at the bus stop, and was thrown forward when the bus driver slammed on the brakes to avoid hitting the Volkswagen. The passenger struck his head inside the bus on a divider between the driver and passengers, police said. The passenger was taken by AMR Ambulance Co. to St. Vincent's Medical Center in Bridgeport, where he was listed in critical condition, according to police. Police are not releasing the man's name, pending notification of his family.

"He was launched inside the bus and hit the divider between the driver and passengers. It's a very serious injury," Police Sgt. Sue Lussier, a department spokesman, said. She said the man's last known address is in Greenwich, though he has a girlfriend who lives in Westport.

Police said the driver of the Volkswagen did not stop, but continued south on Reef Road where some witnesses reported it going into the parking garage behind a commercial building that houses Victoria's Secret, Borders Books and other national retailers. The Volkswagen was described by police as small and dark red or brown in color, with a tan covertible top.

Lussier said officers immediately checked the parking garage but did not locate the Volkswagen. Lussier said police didn't have a description on the driver of the Volkswagen but added that investigators would check surveillance tape of the garage.

Police said they are trying to locate and talk to the driver of the Volkswagen, as well as anyone who has information on the incident.

Fairfield Police Department's Accident Investigation Division can be reached at 203 254-4808.