Dallas, 12/05/2016 /SubmitPressRelease123/
A tragic school bus accident in Chattanooga, Tennessee has left several families devastated. Six young children were killed in the accident, and several more suffered serious head and spinal injuries. Now, an investigation has revealed that the bus driver had been in another accident just two months previously.
Bus Driver’s Second Crash in Two Months
School buses are generally regarded as some of the safest vehicles on the road. Statistically, it is safer for children to travel by bus than to ride to school in a parent’s vehicle. School buses are large vehicles that sit high off of the road, which means that children are usually well out of range of impact zones. Buses are also typically slow-moving and unlikely to be involved in a serious accident.
However, reports indicate that the bus driver in the Tennessee accident was driving “well above” the speed limit when he crashed into a mailbox, struck a utility pole, and slammed into the side of a tree. The bus rolled to its side during the collision.
Investigators also say that the driver had just received his commercial driver’s license in April 2016. In addition to speeding, he was also driving an unusual route during the time of the crash. The school bus was part of a fleet operated by a third-party company called Durham School Services, which transports over one million students daily in districts throughout the U.S. In 2007, the company was given a “conditional safety rating” by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) due to unspecified problems. The rating was bumped up to “satisfactory” by the FMCSA after the company fixed the problems.
According to a CNN report, the bus driver has already been charged with five counts of vehicular homicide, with a sixth charge likely.
Only Six States Require Seat Belts on School Buses
Reports also note that the school bus was not equipped with seat belts. Under Tennessee law, as well as Georgia law, school buses are not required to have seat belts installed. In fact, just six states in the country mandate seat belts on school buses. The National Safety Council and the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration both support all school buses having seat belts.
Eberstein & Witherite, LLP: Atlanta Truck Accident Lawyers
School bus accidents are relatively rare, but they are an unfortunate reality. With distracted driving on the rise, children are also in danger of being struck by a motorist as they board or exit a school bus. If your child has been injured on a school bus or commercial or charter bus, call the Atlanta truck accident lawyers at Eberstein & Witherite, LLP today to receive a free consultation. You can reach us at 1-800-TRUCK WRECK (1-800-878-2597).
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Lucy Tiseo
Eberstein & Witherite, LLP
Phone: 800-878-2597
Email: [email protected]
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