When the school year begins, Charleston parents talk with their children about bus safety. Parents outline the duties kids have to be good passengers. Despite parents’ best efforts to protect their kids, all the safety tips in the world may not prevent motor vehicle accidents caused by negligent drivers.
Nine children were hospitalized after a recent West Virginia school bus crash. Rescue crews initiated a mass casualty plan, because they weren’t certain how many of the 19 children on board were hurt or how badly they were injured. None of the children apparently had life-threatening injuries, according to a WSAZ-TV report.
The TV station reported the accident occurred after the school bus stopped for a student pick-up. Two tractor-trailers were behind the bus on U.S. Route 35 in Mason County at the time. The first truck driver slowed and stopped, but the second trucker apparently wasn’t paying attention.
The 28-year-old truck driver told investigators by the time his attention returned to driving, the man braked too late to prevent a collision. The driver hit the brakes so hard, tires popped as the truck was sliding. The second tractor-trailer slammed into the semi-truck ahead of it and, in turn, the first truck crashed into the stopped bus.
A dozen ambulances from two counties raced to help the victims. The drivers were transported to a hospital along with the injured children. Updates on the victims’ medical conditions were not reported.
The second truck driver was cited for failing to maintain control and driving too fast for conditions. It’s unclear whether investigators are considering criminal charges.
All drivers are obligated to use safe driving practices to protect themselves and others. Inattentive truck drivers, along with companies associated with them and their vehicles, may be liable for accident damage. Compensation due can include coverage of victims’ medical bills, physical and emotion trauma and other related losses.
Source: MatroNews, “Truck driver cited in school bus wreck” Aug. 26, 2014
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