| Author |
Message |
Jason (24.217.116.210)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 - 12:29 am: | |
I'm sure you've all heard the news of the devastating wreck today. How could that happen? Just seeing the images sends shivers down my back. Anyone have any input on to why that wreck might have occurred? Bless the victims and their families. |
Buswarrior (Buswarrior) (64.229.209.217)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 - 12:47 am: | |
Would someone add the details of the Texas accident?
I have only heard of this one up in New York:
http://www.wtnh.com/Global/story.asp?S=830441&nav=0Rde9kaM
Driver seems to have some sort of diabetic condition, according to the news report. So much for the CDL medical....
buswarrior |
Ted Calvert (Chowbus) (192.132.225.130)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 - 2:21 am: | |
I found this story on the Texas crash:
http://www.nbc5i.com/News/1527091/detail.html
Hope this works.
Be safe.
Ted. |
Mrbus (205.188.209.11)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 - 8:00 am: | |
Lets not start jumping to conclusions on the bus crash in texas. To say so much for the CDL physical, is jumping. I have spent way too many years involved with motorcoach driver training, safety and compliance issues to reach a quick verdict. One thing to always keep in mind,is that people making decisions about the cause of these tragadies are usually highly qualified. However in most cases they are trying to second guess a person who was making some split second decisions, and just how much health related problems contributed will remain to be seen.
For those who remember a similar if less deadly crash of a chartered bus occured in Colorado several months ago, with much fan fare from the media. Original stories were that the bus company was remiss in their inspections, and that this particular vehicle was overdue for a DOT inspection. After the media hype had cleared this was found to be completly wrong. The bus company went through a stringent inspection and was cleared of all the alledged infractions. The bottom line was that eventually it was laid back in the lap of the driver, who was sited for "to fast for conditions". If there be one among us who is without fault, let them cast the first stone. Just stay cool with the decision making until all the facts are in and the media hype has cooled.
Gus Haag |
David & Lorna Schinske (Davidschinske) (67.216.108.87)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 - 2:19 pm: | |
I've never known anyone who was in a wreck that wasn't cited as "going to fast for conditions"! My mom was hit by a motorcycle. She was at a complete stop, waited for 3 cars to go by so she could turn left (across the road) and she had 2 cars waiting behind her. The cop said it was an automatic thing in a traffic accident, it didn't matter she was going less than 10 mph. Go figure! |
David Anderson (168.215.176.164)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 - 8:21 pm: | |
Just heard on the news at 6:00pm CST that the bus company was supposed to have $5 million in insurance. It didn't. I heard the company was 5 months old, so may be heavily financed with little assets other than mortgaged coaches.
Just like the barge operator that hit the bridge at South Padre Island last September, there won't be much compensation going around out of this bad wreck.
It's just tragic and so sad that these things happen sometimes. |
Johnny (63.159.194.58)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Tuesday, June 25, 2002 - 11:21 pm: | |
200 people on TWO buses?! I've never seen a bus that holds 100 people legally! |
RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Wednesday, June 26, 2002 - 12:56 am: | |
Johnny - 60' articulated transits can legally carry 120, when you include standees.
Ted - Thank you for the link to the local news regarding this crash. As someone who spent several years investigating transit bus accidents, I was glad to see some pics of the scene, as it gives a good perspective on the type of damage that can be incurred in crash situations.
Based on the pics in the "slideshow" section, it appears that the first 7 rows of seats on the driver's side were literally peeled away from the rest of the chassis - for those of you with MCIs, thats all the way back to the last baggage bin in front of the drive axle. It would also be my guess that the driver was killed instantly, based on where the bus hit the support, as well as those sitting in at least the first two rows of seats.
There doesn't appear to be any type of skid marks or tire gouging in the grassy area behind the bus, and you'll note it is on the other side of the guard rail, which leads to speculation that the driver may have run off the road for some unknown reason. Unfortunately, the video showing the RF of the bus doesn't show whether or not the RF tire is intact - if it had blown, it could have been a contributing factor.
All in all, a tragic situation, and, like many of you, my heart goes out to the victim's families.
We as bus nuts frequently talk about how much safer our coaches are than the stick 'n staple folk, but as many of you have now seen, they're vulnerable, too. . .
Sadly,
RJ
PD4106-2784
Fresno CA |
Bradd B. Smith (Bbsrtbusproject) (208.26.165.37)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 5:35 pm: | |
According to the preliminary test, this driver had Valium and cocaine in his system. He was also STANDING at the wheel, foot on the accelerator, adjusting his visor or something. Never hit the brakes. How could he? According to wittnesses, he had done this several times during the trip. Explains the swerving. We all have condolences for the people, including the driver, who have passed out of time and their families. But there is a lesson for us all here. Driving a vehicle the size of a coach requires ALL your attention. No phones, no fiddeling with anything, no distractions. The other is to oblivious to mention. As Ross said in another thread, if you hit something hard enough to break the toilet loose, it flying forward will be the least of your problems. God's speed to all those involved. |
RJ Long (Rjlong) (24.127.74.29)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 7:57 pm: | |
Brad -
Thanks for the update. Is there a news report link for this info?
FYI, folk: In many states the legal limit for blood alcohol levels is .08. However, if you've got a CDL, that level is cut in half, to .04, when driving a commercial vehicle.
(And in CA, if you have a CDL, and the CHP pulls you over and does a breathalizer which comes up .01 - .03, you park your rig for 24 hours, period. No ifs, ands, or buts, you park it.)
Now, before you all flame me about our motorhomes being private and non-commercial - don't bother, I already know that. This is just some educational information I'm sharing with you. But be aware of this if you have a CDL: In many states a pick-up truck is registered w/ the DMV as a commercial vehicle, with commercial plates on them, even tho they're used as private vehicles. But if the HP or SO or PD decides to pull you over for something, and suspects you've been drinking, a real hot-shot might just nail you with the .04 statute, because of the commercial plates and a CDL. Technically, it's legal for him to do so. Might not stand up in court, but it will sure cost you to reverse the citation.
The whole point of this, as Brad mentioned, is that being under the influence of anything, be it alcohol, illegal drugs, legal prescriptions or OTC medications, is something none of us should practice when we're going to be behind the wheel.
I'll climb down off my Bud Light 24-pak now. . .
RJ
PD4106-2784
Fresno CA |
Gary Stadler (Boogiethecat) (68.7.217.217)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Friday, July 05, 2002 - 9:19 pm: | |
Ok, I've got a question for ya... what about alcohol storage? In a car, at least in Calif., an "open container" is considered anything with it's seal opened in the passenger space of a vehicle. If you have even an empty beercan, you're busted, but In the trunk is ok. So what do you do with that opened but corked bottle of wine in a bus? If it's back there 25 feet in the refrigerator, is it still illegal? I'm curious what one does without a trunk!!
Cheers
Gary |
Don KS/TX (64.24.4.147)
Rating: N/A
Votes: 0 (Vote!) | | Posted on Saturday, July 06, 2002 - 3:40 am: | |
I think that with a CDL, the lower blood alcohol limits apply to ANYTHING you are driving RJ, unless there has been some recent change. That means your motorcycle, car or whatever. |
|