A horrific crash near the border between California and Arizona has left four people dead and more than 20 injured after a tour bus collided with a big rig and two other vehicles. Official reports show that the car accident occurred during the early morning hours on May 21, when a semi-truck carrying a load of metal pipes lost control and jackknifed into the median on the 10 Freeway. The crash occurred at about 2 a.m., and the highway was closed until about 6:30 p.m., according to official reports.
Authorities say the pipes flew from the truck onto the roadway, causing two smaller vehicles to lose control and crash. The driver of the tour bus also lost control when the vehicle hit several of the pipes. The accident caused the bus to roll about 50 feet off the roadway, sliding down an embankment before coming to rest on its side. The bus was carrying 32 people at the time of the crash.
News reports show that more than 20 people were transported to an area hospital by ambulance, while several more were taken to medical facilities by helicopter. Passengers were required to climb over seats in the bus to get out of the vehicle, crawling out of the driver’s side window to safety. Passengers recount the horrors of that scene, with one man explaining how he hit the ceiling and landed atop another person before he could escape the vehicle.
The negligent truck driver in this case should be held responsible for failing to properly operate his vehicle and secure his load. These passengers did not deserve to be injured and killed in this unnecessary car collision. Victims of semi-truck accidents deserve compensation for damages including wrongful death and medical expenses from at-fault drivers and their employers.
Source: CBS Los Angeles, “4 Dead In Tour Bus, Big Rig Crash In Blythe” No author given, May. 21, 2014