MELROSE, Mass. (WHDH) — A World War II veteran and prisoner of war was hit and killed by an MBTA bus while crossing a street in Melrose on Tuesday night.
Minor McLain was on his way to his weekly VFW meeting when he was struck and killed.
“I did not sleep at all last night. I’m crying,” said Andrew McLain, the victim’s son.
Andrew McLain stopped by the intersection of Franklin and Pratt Streets where his father died in the crosswalk. He said his father was 88 years old, but still full of life.
“He loved life, a lot of people loved him,” said Andrew McLain. “My father is a longtime member of the VFW, captured by the Germans in World War II…We ate out at…just a couple Mondays ago, we saw the Abraham Lincoln movie a few months ago.”
The accident is being investigated by the Middlesex District Attorney’s office. The accident happened at 7 p.m. Tuesday — investigators are trying to determine if the sun may have blinded the driver at the time of the crash. Officials said the driver was traveling at 20 miles per hour.
Minor McLain’s best friend and fellow veteran left a flag at the crash site.
“He was walking up and I blew the horn. Minor, you want a ride? But on the good days Minor wanted to be out,” said John Pike, the victim’s friend.
No charges have been filed and the accident remains under investigation.
As a result, per MBTA policy, the driver will not be operating a bus until the Middlesex County District Attorney's office wraps up its investigation.