A multi-vehicle collision last week resulted in a wrecked school bus, several injuries, and no charges against the driver of a tractor-trailer that caused the collision. The school bus was dropping off several children with its lights flashing one afternoon last week. A pickup truck had stopped behind the school bus to wait for it to begin moving again.
However, a Florida man driving a tractor-trailer allegedly did not notice the flashing lights indicating the bus was stopped. As a result, the tractor-trailer crashed into the pickup truck which was pushed onto the road’s shoulder. The tractor-trailer then rear-ended the back left corner of the school bus, reportedly “mangling the last three rows of seats.”
The school bus was carrying 17 students at the time of the collision. Two students suffered injuries that required treatment at the hospital. The driver of the pickup truck also went to the hospital after suffering minor injuries.
This type of accident demonstrates the potential power of a tractor-trailer traveling at a high speed. If the tractor-trailer had been traveling at an even higher speed or if more students had been sitting in the rear of the bus when the accident occurred, the accident could have been much more severe.
Truck accidents can be very serious, especially when the truck involved is as large as an 18-wheeler, like in this crash. The parents of the children on this bus are likely very frustrated by the accident, since it occurred because the tractor-trailer driver did not notice the stopped bus. Drivers of all ages should recognize that school buses sometimes make stops in unusual places. Being prepared for these types of stops is part of being a responsible driver. While this driver does not face charges, drivers who are negligent or reckless could be held accountable for injuries or deaths that result from their driving.
Source: WDAM-TV, “Injuries in school bus, 18-wheeler crash,” Roslyn Anderson, Jan. 9, 2013
