The 72-year-old man who fell in front of a MTA bus and was fatally struck in Staten Island likely became disoriented after visiting a local grocery store, the victim’s daughter told the Daily News.
Leton Meyers was doing a routine grocery run at a Stop & Shop near Forest Ave. in Port Richmond when he fell into the roadway near Veltman Ave. around 4:20 p.m. on Friday. Meyers was struck by the driver of an S48 bus who was heading east on Forest Ave.
Police respond after a pedestrian was fatally struck on Forest Ave. near Veltman Ave. in Staten Island on Friday, May 15, 2026. (Rose Abuin / New York Daily News)
“It was a tragic accident for both parties. For the driver of the bus and for him,” Samantha Meyers, 40, the man’s daughter, said. “He was an elderly man, he wasn’t drunk. It’s just a tragic accident.”
The 43-year-old bus driver continued heading east after the collision, but stopped after being informed of the crash, cops said. The driver was not arrested.
Meyers died at the scene.
The family was informed by the city medical examiner’s office that Meyers’ cause of death was ruled blunt-force trauma to the head and was said to be an accident.
“As far as we know, he was disoriented and it may have been a medical incident but there is no indication in the medical examiner’s report,” the daughter said.
Meyers lived in West Brighton, cops said. He was more than two miles from his home when he was struck.
Meyers leaves behind two children and a grandchild. He was an immigrant from Belize, the family said.
“He was a good dad, good grandfather,” his daughter said. “He cared about his family, his house, hard worker. He was an immigrant who came here many years ago and did well for himself.”
The family started a GoFundMe to help cover funeral expenses.
“My grandpa was the kind of person who could light up any room with one outrageous joke, say the most non-politically correct thing at the worst possible time, and somehow still have everyone laughing until they cried,” a relative said in the GoFundMe. “He was funny, chill, unforgettable, and always brought life to the party.”