Bus Victim Identified

By Kevin Cole, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.

Feb. 3–An Omaha man who died after falling into a traffic lane near 46th and Center Streets and being run over by a bus has been identified.

Enrique Torres, 50, fell into the curbside lane of Center Street about 5 p.m. Friday, said Sgt. Paula Timperley, a spokeswoman for the Omaha Police Department.

A family member said Saturday that funeral services for Torres were pending.

According to a witness, Torres was walking east on the sidewalk when he seemed to waver and reached out to grab hold of a utility pole.

“The witness said the man seemed to be in some kind of distress,” Timperley said. “The (victim) held on for a couple of moments and then fell into the (curbside) traffic lane.”

A few cars swerved and went around Torres, including a car that was right in front of an eastbound Metro Area Transit bus. The bus then drove over Torres.

The bus continued east with the driver, Richard M. Capellupo, 56, apparently unaware that he had run someone over, Timperley said.

Capellupo told police he thought there was a bag on the curb and, after feeling the bus hit a bump, he asked passengers if they saw or felt anything. None of the passengers said they did, Capellupo said.

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Copyright (c) 2007, Omaha World-Herald, Neb.

Distributed by McClatchy-Tribune Business News.

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