Investigation Complete in the Deadly August 2008 Bus Crash in Sherman, Texas
The National Transportation Safety Board completed its investigation into the tragic bus crash in Sherman, Texas last year. I had previously blogged about this tragic—and avoidable—bus wreck (see here and here). The NTSB determined that a punctured retread tire was the probable cause of the crash. The bus driver tested positive for alcohol and cocaine after the accident, but the board did not cite driver impairment as the cause.
The retread tire was on the front steering axle, which is in violation of federal rules. According to the NTSB, it was a slow leak that caused the retreaded tire to blow. If the tires had been properly checked and inflated, investigators said the accident could have been avoided all together. The bus had been inspected eight days prior to the crash, but the Texas Department of Public Safety was cited in the investigation for poor oversight of the contractors who performed the inspection and for limiting inspection costs.
The tire itself wasn’t the only problem. The bus company, Iguala BusMex, was previously operating as Angel Tours until the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration pulled its certification for having an unsatisfactory record. Its owner, Angel de la Torre of Houston, simply applied for a new certification under a different company name. The administration has now stopped granting licenses for new applicants until it checks its system for this type of attempt.
Information provided by Texas Board Certified Personal Injury Lawyer Mark A. Anderson, who can be reached toll free at 877-294-1115, or contacted by clicking here.
