A tour bus company that recorded an instance of unsafe driving in Maryland back in 2011 has struck again.
A motor vehicle accident involving a bus from the same company recently sent 35 individuals to the hospital with injuries. A 17-year-old individual that was left in critical condition sustained the worst of the injuries. The accident occurred outside of Maryland state lines.
The owner of the bussing company admitted that the driver became distracted with his GPS device. While devoting his attention to the gadget, he missed an intended turn. Instead, he drove the bus through an overpass, but the bus was too tall. Police did not confirm whether or not the driver’s distraction was to blame.
The bus crashed into the bridge causing the roof to collapse. An official for the local fire department said luggage came raining down on passengers and the mangled metal trapped many individuals.
The driver, who has assumed the role on a part-time basis for five years, was prompted with warnings leading up to the bridge, but he did not heed those notifications. The posted height limit for vehicles traveling under the overpass was 10 feet. The tour bus in which the man was driving was substantially taller.
The bus creamed through the overpass and 200 yards past it. Unlike many of the passengers, the driver walked away unharmed.
Many have called into question the company’s competency after a string of safety issues. In addition to the unsafe driving incident in Maryland, the company has also run into compliance issues in two other states.
While some might chalk this accident up to an honest mistake, a history of unsafe driving suggests otherwise. Transportation companies who are negligent – and whose passengers suffer from that negligence – can be subjected to a civil suit. In this case, a great number of victims could seek compensation for their injuries at the hands of the bus company.
Source: WHDH.com, “Tour bus company has history of problems,” Steve Cooper, Feb. 4, 2013