COVID-19 In Pittsburgh: Port Authority Confirms Deaths Of 2 Employees From Coronavirus
PITTSBURGH (KDKA) -- Two Port Authority operators have died from coronavirus.
The Port Authority announced Monday that it's grieving the deaths of two employees.
"Today, our hearts are broken. We are mourning the loss of two members of the Port Authority family," said Port Authority CEO Katharine Kelleman in a statement.
"On behalf of Port Authority's Board and the entire agency, we extend our deepest sympathies to their families and loved ones. Their commitment to serve customers was truly emblematic of all of our frontline employees."
Bus riders say the news spread fast.
"I feel bad for them. I hate to see anybody die from anything," said Swissvale resident Bob Lybarger.
Homewood resident Chevelle Pendleton says, "Please mask up, be safe, wash your hands. It's crazy out there."
One man dedicated his life to the Port Authority, working as a bus operator for more than two decades, most recently at the East Liberty garage. He died Sunday just two days after testing positive.
The other man in his 30s tested positive the day before Thanksgiving and died Monday. He recently worked out of the Collier bus garage.
"It's an enormous tragedy, for the families the broader communities in which they lived and worshipped and played and also for transit riders, because transit riders really develop longstanding relationships with their bus drivers," said Laura Chu Wiens, Executive Director of Pittsburghers for Public Transit.
Laura Chu Wiens says despite the tragic news, the need for public transit is greater now than ever before.
"Because there's a high percentage of riders on public transit that are the essential workers that are keeping everyone else fed, taken care of at hospitals and doing the sorting of packages and all sorts of other essential work."
Riders Lybarger and Pendleton want to express their gratitude for the operators who risk their lives daily to drive them to work.
"They're scared. It's life. It's the way of life now. Put your mask on, be safe and be careful," said Pendleton.
"I really feel bad for them. These poor people have to do their jobs and thank God they're doing their jobs, that way it gets people around," Lybarger said.
Since the start of the pandemic, 186 Port Authority employees tested positive for COVID-19. These are the first deaths.
