Surveillance Video Shows Moments Before Bus Crash In SE OKC

The driver of a white pick-up, mangled beyond recognition said he can't believe he's alive.

The Del City bus driver, who slammed into him and several other drivers near S.E. 15th Street and Santa Fe Avenue, is headed to jail.

Police said the bus driver was under the influence of drugs when he caused the wreck.

The tracks were still clear where that bus crashed into a railroad bridge.

But before that, the driver hit head-on with at least five other vehicles.

4/20/2015 Related Story: Police Investigate Mid-Del Bus Driver After Injury Crash

Surveillance cameras at area businesses showed from at least three different angles a Mid-Del school bus sped down S.E. 15th.

“The first thing I saw was just ambulances going through Southeast 15th one after another,” said convenience store clerk, Teresa Estrada. “Cops and firefighters.”

Estrada said customers came inside saying they were nearly hit by an erratic bus driver.

“She said the bus was speeding, she said he was driving crazy,” said Estrada.

“I don't know how I made it to the scene,” said Claudia Montiel. “I was really shaky, I was really nervous.”

Montiel was at work when she received three missed calls from her husband frantically calling from under his flipped Chevrolet pick-up.

“I am amazed. Nothing. Just a few scratches, his eye. I'm glad, I'm very happy and thankful,” said Montiel.

Police arrested 57-year-old Odis Pitts who they said was driving under the influence.

Pitts went up an embankment before finally hitting a rail road bridge and coming to a rest at S.E. 15th Street and S. Santa Fe. Avenue.

At least five vehicles were left mangled on S.E. 15th Street.

“All I remember seeing is two small cars in front of me, already crushed and stopped, and I saw the bus pass by real fast speeding. After that, that's when I braked, the small car hit me, and that's when I flipped,” said Claudia's husband, Jose Acosta. “It's a miracle that I came out of it. You can see my truck is totaled and there's nothing left of it. It's a miracle I'm still standing.”

“What if he would have lost his life? What if he wasn't the one giving me the call?” Montiel asked. “Like I said, really grateful.”

“I am really thankful. I thank the Lord for giving me another chance, and staying with me at the worse moments,” said Acosta.

A Mid-Del School spokesperson told News 9, "Everything is still under investigation. [Odis Pitts] He dropped off students some period of time prior to the accident. He transported Del City High School students and a student to our Career Academy. No safety problems were reported by the students who were transported."

No word on why the bus driver was in the area, which is several miles outside of the Mid-Del school district.