Tour Bus Crashes Result in Injuries, Deaths

Recently, there have been several devastating crashes involving tour buses. On May 2, 2009, around 5 p.m., a tour bus crashed into a freeway divider on Interstate 215, near Nuevo Road in Perris, which is approximately 60 miles southeast of Los Angeles, in Riverside County. Twenty-eight passengers were on board—eight passengers were critically injured and taken to hospitals, and 20 other passengers were treated for moderate injuries.

The northbound lanes of the freeway had to be shut down as the police and firefighters rushed to the scene. Six trapped passengers had to be extricated by emergency responders from the back of the bus. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the crash.

Bus Crash Near Soledad, California

On April 28, 2009, around 3 p.m., a tour bus crashed into a guardrail. The crash caused the bus to flip and roll over on a U.S. 101 overpass near Soledad, located in Central California. The bus was carrying French and Canadian tourists who had just spent the day sightseeing on the Monterey Peninsula.

At least 40 people were injured, and five people were killed, including the bus driver, John Egnew. The freeway remained closed for two hours as helicopters and ambulances transported the injured victims to local hospitals.

Orion Pacific Tour Bus Company, located in Orange County, California, owned the bus. According to the Federal Department of Transportation, the company had a "satisfactory" safety rating and had no crashes in the past two years. However, according to the Los Angeles Times, in 2005, a woman was injured when she was crossing the street when a bus, driven by Egnew, hit her and rolled on top of her.

Common Causes of Bus Accidents

There are a variety of causes for bus accidents. Below are some common causes, which can occur independently of each other or in combination:

• Driver Fatigue
• Untrained or inexperienced driver
• Driver who has a history of driving recklessly
• Driver who is under the influence or alcohol or drugs
• Driving in excess of the speed limit
• Driving aggressively
• Oversized or overloaded bus
• Poorly maintained bus, such as poor brakes

Bus Accident Statistics

Bus accidents can be fatal, resulting in many serious deaths and injuries. According to the U.S. Department of Transportation Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, more than 13,000 buses were involved in crashes nationally in 2007. Of these crashes, about 6,953 of them involved injuries. In California, approximately 1,332 buses were involved in accidents in the year 2007.

California Assembly Bill 636

In March of 2009, Assembly Bill (AB) 636, sponsored by the California Bus Association, was introduced to reduce the occurrence of dangerous crashes involving charter buses. AB 636 would permanently revoke the bus driver's license if the driver lacked the appropriate licensing. Additionally, if the bus company hired a bus driver knowing the driver lacked the proper licensing, then the bus company would lose the authority to operate in the State of California.

If you or someone you know was a passenger and injured in a bus collision, seek experienced, professional legal counsel right away to protect your rights and obtain the just compensation you deserve. Contact the Law Offices of James R. Gillen today for a consultation or information.