Belizean Man Killed After Being Struck by Bus in New York

The family of Leton Meyers, a 72-year-old Staten Island resident originally from Burrell Boom, Belize, is calling for accountability after he was fatally struck by an MTA bus on May 15.

The incident has left his loved ones devastated and searching for answers.

According to the NYPD’s Collision Investigation Squad, the incident occurred at a bus stop. When the bus pulled away from the stop, Meyers fell into the roadway and was struck by the vehicle’s rear tires.

The family told News Five that he suffered fatal blunt force trauma. The circumstances surrounding his death have not yet been fully disclosed by the MTA, and the family says they are grieving while simultaneously pressing the transit authority for a full explanation of how the tragedy occurred.

“This was a man who spent his life opening his home to everyone and building community,” the family said in a statement. “To lose him in such a violent and horrific way has shattered our family. We are grieving while also searching for accountability and answers from the MTA about how this happened.”

Born and raised in Burrell Boom, Belize, Meyers attended St. John’s Technical School before immigrating to the United States, where he eventually settled in the West New Brighton area of Staten Island. A skilled technician, he built a long career with companies including Ricoh and Ikon, earning a reputation for dedication and expertise in his field.

Together with his wife, Effie, Meyers opened their home to neighbors, friends, extended family members, foster children, and anyone in need of support or a sense of belonging. “He wanted people to feel like family,” Effie said. “No one left our home hungry, unwelcome, or alone.”

He is survived by his wife, two adult children , Samantha and VaSeann, and his granddaughter Jaslene, who remembered him not for the manner of his passing, but for the man he was.

“My Grandpa didn’t deserve to die that way,” Jaslene said. “We want him to be remembered for who he was, not how or why he died.”

Meyers’ daughter, Samantha, described the incident as a tragedy for all involved. “It was a tragic accident for both parties, for the driver of the bus and for him,” she told the Daily News.

Meyers was a fixture within Staten Island’s Central American community, and his family says his legacy is one of generosity, warmth, and cultural pride rooted in his Belizean heritage.

Jaslene has launched a GoFundMe campaign to assist with funeral arrangements and final expenses. “Every person deserves a dignified end of life,” she said. “He was robbed of that and we want to make sure we give him that as we lay him to rest.”