A pedestrian was struck on Market street. His body was covered by a black tarp shortly after noon on Monday.

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Police say a CARTA bus ran over and killed a pedestrian Monday afternoon in front of the Family Dollar store on Market Street in downtown Chattanooga.

"He lost his balance. When he fell, he fell into the path of the bus," said Lisa Maragnano, executive director of the Chattanooga Regional Transportation Authority. "There was nothing our driver could have done to prevent the accident from occurring."

Chattanooga Police said the victim has been identified as 60-year-old Thaddeus Dixson.

Hamilton Smith was inside the Family Dollar when the accident occurred at about 12:21 p.m. Smith, who works as a security guard in the parking structure next door, said the victim was a black male whose head had been crushed by the bus.

"He was dead, like — bang, instant dead," Smith said. " There was several people that came running into the store and said, 'He's dead, he's dead.' "

The victim's body lay in Market Street underneath a blanket for about an hour while police photographed the accident scene and interviewed passengers on the bus, the No. 13 to Rossville.

Police said the CARTA driver won't faces charges stemming from the accident.

The driver involved in the accident feels terrible, said Maragnano, who came to the accident scene with Steve Jett, chairman of CARTA's board.

They both said it's the first time they can remember where a CARTA bus driver ran over and killed someone.

"I've been on the board for 30 years, and I don't remember a fatality," Jett said.

Contact staff writer Tim Omarzu at tomar zu@timesfreepress.com or www.facebook.com/tim.omarzu or twitter.com/TimOmarzu or 423-757-6651.

Updated July 21, 2015 to reflect that the police afterwards provided victim's actual age.