KEY POINTS

  • A veteran MTA bus operator has died from COVID-19
  • Oliver Cyrus became the second MTA member to have died from the virus
  • Subway transit conductor Peter Petrassi also died from COVID-19, hours before Cyrus' death

A veteran Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) bus operator who died from COVID-19 became the second member of the agency's public workforce to succumb to the virus.

61-year-old Oliver Cyrus, a 21-year bus driver for the Manhattan and Bronx Surface Transit Operating Authority, passed away Thursday, said the New York Daily News.

MTA officials told the outlet it wasn't clear when Cyrus, who was born in Guyana and lived in Brooklyn, tested positive for COVID-19.

Metro-North_MTA
A Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) worker looks out for commuters before the train's departure at Grand Central Station in New York, February 2, 2013. REUTERS/Eduardo Munoz

52 MTA employees had tested positive for the flu-like illness as of Wednesday. Officials also reported the same number of positive cases the day before.

“Brother Cyrus” was described by Transport Workers Union Local 100 Vice President Richard Davis as a “quiet and humble man” and was “well-liked” by his co-workers.

Davis went on to say that Cyrus' passing cast a gloom cloud over Manhattanville employees that placed the depot in a “somber mood,” said Pix 11.

Union President Tony Utano meanwhile extended his condolences to Cyrus' family and co-workers. He also regarded him, together with other transit workers, police force, healthcare workers and the entire FDNY as the “true heroes” that continue to soldier on as COVID-19 continue to spread across New York and the world.

Cyrus' death came after another MTA personnel died from COVID-19 earlier.

49-year-old subway conductor Peter Petrassi was one of the 52 confirmed cases of the virus among transit employees.

Petrassi worked for the MTA for 20 years, said MSN.

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