[B]Bronx tour bus crash on highway kills at least 14 people after bus smashes into traffic pole

[Shortline Bus]

Bronx tour bus crash on highway kills at least 14 people after bus smashes into traffic pole

BY Bob Kappstatter, Erik Badia, Matthew Lysiak and Jonathan Lemire

NY DAILY NEWS WRITERS

 

March 12th 2011

 

 

"More than a dozen people were killed in a horrific crash early Saturday when a discount bus flipped on a Bronx highway and careened into a metal traffic pole, officials said.

 

The top of the World Wide bus, which was returning to the city from the Mohegan Sun casino, was sheared off when it hit the sign alongside the New England Thruway just after 5:45 a.m.

 

Officials said at least 14 people died and another 20 were hospitalized after the sickening impact - which may have been caused by a hit-and-run driver.

 

"The bus was cut into two parts by the \[pole\]," said a survivor, Victor.

 

"I saw a lot of death," said Victor, as he sat dazed in the emergency room at Jacobi Medical Center. "People were crying. People were screaming."

 

Investigators said the bus was traveling south on I-95 to Midtown when it crashed.

 

 

Rescue workers at the scene of the horrible bus crash. Keivom for News

 

Cops were searching for a tractor-trailer believed to have made contact with the bus in the moments before the deadly crash.

 

The bus appeared to careen out of control, slam into a guardrail and then overturn on the highway near Exit 14, the ramp for the Hutchinson River Pkwy.

 

It appeared to skid on its side for about 250 yards and crashed directly into the massive traffic sign - and the steel pole tore through the bus' windows.

 

The vehicle did not come to a rest until the pole had ripped through almost the entire length of the bus, destroying its interior. The sturdy pole, which supports a large highway sign, is built to withstand strong winds and not give way when struck.

 

"I opened my eyes - I was on the ground," said Victor, who was sleeping in the moments before the wreck. "I saw a big piece of metal \[and\] the bus was in two parts."

 

"I saw people split open. It was awful," he said. "I tried to help. I crawled out through the emergency window in the back."

 

Scores of emergency vehicles rushed to the grisly accident scene, and firefighters clambered over the crumpled bus, desperate to find survivors. Injured passengers, some of whom were critically hurt, were rushed to area hospitals, including St. Barnabas and Jacobi Medical Center.

 

"I pulled over and I saw people running with their phones in their hands," said Homer Martinez, 56, a limo driver who stopped his car and ran over to help at the gruesome scene.

 

"I saw three people backing up from the bus and trying to hold another lady back," Martinez said, "and they said 'You don't want to see this."

 

Read more: http://www.nydailynews.com/ny_local/2011/03/12/2011-03-12_bronx_tour_bus_crash_on_highway_kills_at_least_13_people_after_bus_smashes_into_.html#ixzz1GP3bhKVR

[MHV9218]

Please, watch the Nazi Banksters Crimes Ripple Effect at http://jforjustice.co.uk/banksters

[R68 Subway Car]

What is going on lately?! :eek:

[553 Bridgeton]

What is going on lately?! :eek:

 

Accidents happen. BUT, maybe a so called "car driver" was driving nuts. Or maybe the driver thought he was a nascar driver. And this is the problem I have with those discounted bus companies.

 

My thoughts out to those who perished.

 

[Edit] After seeing those pics, thats just sad! WTH Happened?

[Shortline Bus]

Just saw a video update on NY'1 website on this. The NYPD is trying to locate and maybe arrest the truck driver that is believed blamed for this charter bus to lose control and cause this horrific crash.

 

Question also needs to be raised. Was the Bus Driver also speeding on I-95(New England Thruway)when the incident took place?

[553 Bridgeton]

By the looks of that, it looks like speed was a factor. I mean for the bus to split like that is no question that speed was a factor, tho I could be wrong.

[Shortline Bus]

By the looks of that, it looks like speed was a factor. I mean for the bus to split like that is no question that speed was a factor, tho I could be wrong.

 

 

553 i trust your comments/opinions on a tragic accident like this since you are a bus driver more than a police officer.

[Forest Glen]

By the looks of that, it looks like speed was a factor. I mean for the bus to split like that is no question that speed was a factor, tho I could be wrong.

 

The article said that the bus was cut off by a tractor trailer.

[Shortline Bus]

The article said that the bus was cut off by a tractor trailer.

 

 

That article was written a couple of hours after the accident. An update on NY1 a little while ago (around 12 Noon today 3/12/11)states the tractor trailer was speeding and NYPD was looking for that truck driver.

[Forest Glen]

Some people are saying that the driver made up the tractor trailer just to save face.

[Shortline Bus]

Just wondering. Is 'world wide' bus another of the so called 'chinatown' charter bus comapnies?:confused:

[Forest Glen]

It is. Another article I read said it was heading to Chinatown.

[Shortline Bus]

It is. Another article I read said it was heading to Chinatown.

 

Being fair if megabus/coach usa can get crucify\ied by the media/public for their accidents, so should this 'chinatown' charter bus as well if the driver is at fault here.

 

Got to wait to what investgators/police is cause of this accident. Being honest the type of charter bus it is it does raise a huge red flag.

[553 Bridgeton]

The article said that the bus was cut off by a tractor trailer.

 

However, if the driver wasnt speeding(Tho I could be wrong) this could have been avoided, but by the looks of this accident speeding was an issue imo. I never creep around trucks because if your in there blind spot they cannot see you. When Im on the AC Expressway or the Garden State Parkway I stay far away from them trucks, because they always rushing to get where there going and dont seem to pay attention when it matters.

 

If the driver of that bus wasnt under a rock, he would have not been cut off. My guess he was in the blind spot. Driver error was on both drivers.

[Shortline Bus]

However, if the driver wasnt speeding(Tho I could be wrong) this could have been avoided, but by the looks of this accident speeding was an issue imo. I never creep around trucks because if your in there blind spot they cannot see you. When Im on the AC Expressway or the Garden State Parkway I stay far away from them trucks, because they always rushing to get where there going and dont seem to pay attention when it matters.

 

If the driver of that bus wasnt under a rock, he would have not been cut off. My guess he was in the blind spot. Driver error was on both drivers.

 

 

 

A better question is? How often other than DWI/DUI, do you have these fatal accidents without speeding? Almost close to zero.

[St Louis Car 09]

Those chinatown based buses are dangerous.The drivers drive like its Gran Turismo bus edition.When I use them to travel,you get an unsettling feeling sometimes.And after all of that the driver survives.HOW IN THE HELL??!!!

[Shortline Bus]

Those chinatown based buses are dangerous.The drivers drive like its Gran Turismo bus edition.When I use them to travel,you get an unsettling feeling sometimes.And after all of that the driver survives.HOW IN THE HELL??!!!

 

Although I never been on the 'chinatown' buses after these numerous accidents, I plan on never using them even if i was paid $10,00. (maybe for a million bucks though:p

 

I always travel on Greyhound and sister company "Bolt Bus' for my mass transit travel across the Northeast (I-95)coordior.

[Grand Concourse]

This was a tragic accident, from the look of the passengers were decapitated by the pole as the bus slid... Truly, truly tragic. To think that almost half the bus perished in the accident... Thoughts and prayers go out to the families of the poor victims, and I wish the best of recoveries to those critically injured by the accident.

 

--

 

Probably my worst nightmare, that accident. I hate high buses with a passion, because the center of gravity makes them so, so much more prone to flipping. And when they do flip, there's potential for a tragedy like this. This in what, the same week there was a major bus flip tragedy further south, right? I'd rather walk than take a tall bus on a twisty road, I'll tell you that.

 

Well stated, agreed.

[MHV9218]

Please, watch the Nazi Banksters Crimes Ripple Effect at http://jforjustice.co.uk/banksters

[DevilBus65]

Wow I see these buses dropping off at Main St when I'm booking buses. Kinda creepy to think some of the people I see all the time may have been on this one.

[BZGuy]

That section of 95 where it meets with the Hutch is pretty bad with merging traffic plus it is a bit curvy though there.

 

IIRC, The Prevost H3-45 is 12'1, so it quite a bit taller than the X3 or MCIs D/J model. Couple that with the fact that this bus was on a casino line run (no luggage) so it may well have been a bit top heavy.

 

Speed could have been a factor. They made it from Mohegan Sun to the scene of the accident in about 2 hours, which means the B/O was "turning and burning". I'm not knocking that...because I push too,but I think that his speed will be investigated.

 

The way I hear this story, when they find that trucker, he or she is gonna get arrested. The truck was in the left lane (prohibited at that location) and speeding also. The way it sounds the B/O may have overcorrected,but that could have happened to anybody....it was a million to one odds on that type of accidents.

 

I've never seen the World Wide guys drive like douchebags, but I've heard somethings today from other drivers so I'm not gonna comment on that. Chinatown carrier or not, this was a bad deal and I hope the responsible party get held fully accountable for it.

[Joel Up Front]

rofl @ the religious zealot that posted about gambling in the comments section.

[Burrstone]

WOW TRAGIC!

 

My biggest fear EVER driving a bus is being the bus driver in accident like this where people on the bus I was driving died... I don't think I'd ever be the same again. (Whether the accident was my fault or not).

 

When you are driving, you hear about accidents like this, and they seem surreal, something you see on TV shows/movies and on the news. I don't think it really hits us that this could be anyone of us, behind the wheel of a bus, that takes lives of passengers, destroys lives and devastates dozens of families, where your life and their life changes in a split second!

[BZGuy]

WOW TRAGIC!

 

My biggest fear EVER driving a bus is being the bus driver in accident like this where people on the bus I was driving died... I don't think I'd ever be the same again. (Whether the accident was my fault or not).

 

When you are driving, you hear about accidents like this, and they seem surreal, something you see on TV shows/movies and on the news. I don't think it really hits us that this could be anyone of us, behind the wheel of a bus, that takes lives of passengers, destroys lives and devastates dozens of families, where your life and their life changes in a split second!

 

Agreed....I don't know if I could come back from that either.

 

I'm not gonna judge the driver until we have all the facts because it could have been anyone of us. I almost made the news last night running Boston-Providence because this car came to a dead stop in the middle of 95 with no warning. Lets just say that bus is getting new brakes because I burnt them up big time. I've never seen the brakes glow, I'm lucky I didn't start a fire:mad:

[Burrstone]

I also wondered if anyone else saw this tractor trailer? Any passengers, witnesses? I've got to say if you are behind the 8 ball for killing 13 people and injuring many more, that tractor trailer is a great excuse.

 

Are there any traffic cams within miles of this?

 

Now with that being said, I do feel the bus driver deserves a chance to vindicated or charged before any jumps to conclusions about him causing the accident...

 

As far as World Wide Tours, I talked to someone there about 2 1/2 to 3 years ago. They are based in Brooklyn and were contracting for Vamoose Bus (operating as a chinatown carrier offering service to the DC Metro area) providing the buses and operating them. I do remember then you had to have 3 years experience to get hired on with World Wide Tours, a lot more than Coach USA/Megabus.

 

I don't know if they still contract for Vamoose Bus or not, but through a google search they operate "World Wide Bus" (worldwidebus.com) offering service from Manhattan to Cambridge & Newton Mass.