Woman dies after hit by bus at Fort Lauderdale Airport

Deputies say 68-year-old woman fell, struck by passing bus

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. – Detectives with the Broward Sheriff's Office are investigating the death of a woman at Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport.

Deputies said Cheryl A. Bazilius, 68, was hit and killed by a shuttle bus Saturday afternoon outside of Terminal 3.

An SUV pulled up to the arrivals area of the airport to pick up an airline passenger. However the vehicle stopped in a lane only meant for moving traffic.

The victim stepped out of the SUV to greet the incoming loved one, but as she stepped back toward the vehicle, the woman tripped and fell into the tires of the passing bus, police said.

The driver of the bus, identified by BSO as 61-year-old Woodrow Minor, was not able to stop in time. The woman was pronounced dead at the scene.

Traffic was diverted for several hours, causing a backlog of cars trying to catch flights at the airport. Access to the airport's parking garage was also sealed off, preventing some hurried passengers from making their flights.

The driver of the bus, employed by Cabana Coaches, was seen speaking with detectives, but the incident appeared to be the result of a tragic accident.

Twelve passengers were on board the private shuttle bus at the time. The group had just been picked up from the airport and were being taken to Port Miami to make departing cruises.

No one else was injured. The woman's identity has not yet been released.

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About the Author:

Terrell Forney joined Local 10 News in October 2005 as a general assignment reporter. He was born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, but a desire to escape the harsh winters of the north brought him to South Florida.