Dallas, 06/09/2017 /SubmitPressRelease123/
The wreck occurred when a pickup truck veered into the path of a church bus carrying a group of senior citizens, striking the bus head-on. The 20-year-old pickup driver survived the truck wreck, but he remains hospitalized in critical condition.
Sgt. Orlando Moreno of the public safety department, told reporters that 12 people, including the bus driver, died at the scene. The 13th victim died at a San Antonio hospital, about 75 miles away from the accident. One passenger in the church bus survived and is in critical condition.
The church that owns the bus issued a statement saying the passengers were returning home after a three-day retreat.
Federal Officials to Investigate
Another report states that federal officials from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have arrived on scene to investigate the collision.
ABC News reports the bus was a 2004 Turtle Top and that “safety concerns have long surrounded the 15-passenger vans, which are frequently used by churches and other groups, with advocates saying they can be difficult to control in emergencies.”
Since the reports have come out about the tragic crash involving the church bus, a video has surfaced of someone recording the alleged driver of the truck who was possibly texting while driving moments before he swerved in front of the bus, courtesy of Fox News.
The story shares the investigator in charge of the team from the National Transportation Safety Board, Jennifer Morrison, would only say that “distracted driving will be among the issues investigated.”
High Fatality Rates for Head-on Crashes Involving Texting
Head-on motor vehicle collisions have much higher fatality rates than other types of accidents — especially when one or both of the vehicles involved is a bus, semi-truck, or passenger van.
According to data gathered in 2014 by the Insurance Information Institute, head-on collisions have a 9.6 percent fatality rate, which is higher than any other type of collision. By comparison, the fatality rate for rear-end collisions is 6.6 percent. For sideswipe crashes, the fatality rate is 2.7 percent.
Personal injury lawyer, Amy Witherite, who specializes in defending people harmed by car wrecks and truck wrecks, explains, “When buses, passenger vans, and semi-trucks are involved in head-on collisions, the results can be devastating. These are larger than average vehicles that weigh more than a typical car.”
Furthermore, a report from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) that eight people are killed and 1,161 others are injured as a result of “distracted drivers.” That’s not annually – it’s daily. Every day texting while driving is a hazard on today’s roads and a cause for car wrecks and truck wrecks across the country.
“When someone takes their eyes off the road or their hands off the wheel, their minds are clearly not on driving, which means your safety is at risk,” said Witherite. “All it takes is a matter of seconds to think a text message is more important than other people on the road to cause a car wreck or truck wreck, or worse.”
If you have been injured in a semi-truck accident, bus accident, or charter bus accident, you may be entitled to compensation for your injuries as a result of these distracted drivers. Don’t delay speaking to an attorney about your next steps. Call an experienced Texas truck accident lawyer as soon as possible to discuss your case.
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Lucy Tiseo
Eberstein Witherite, LLP
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