Businesses To Remain Closed For Holidays After Bus Crash

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NORTH MIAMI (CBSMiami) -- Three businesses are expected to remain closed for the holidays after a bus tore through the storefronts and sent three people to the hospital.

It happened Thursday night at N.W. 1st Street and North Miami Avenue.

A jewelry store manager said he was almost killed as he was locking up the store.

"I was closing the padlocks to close the store. At that moment I heard a big bang! And I looked and I saw the bus coming at me," said Elisio Peraza, able to get out of the way just in time.

The bus driver apparently attempted to avoid a collision with a car and went off the road and onto the sidewalk, slamming into the building.

"Had about three passengers on the bus. The bus driver, as well. And then the female passenger that was driving the car," said Miami Fire Rescue's Lt. Ignatius Carroll.

Officials said everyone should be fine.

A city fire technical team is evaluating the damages. The building was deemed safe.