A bus carrying more than 40 people was on its way to Oklahoma when it went off the roadway and crashed, killing two people and injuring at least 36. The Associated Press reports that the fatal bus accident occurred on President George Bush Turnpike in Irving, Texas. Officials say the bus was weaving across the highway before striking two concrete barriers and toppling on to its side.
The passengers were thrown inside the bus and many landed on top of each other. Two people were killed in the crash and dozens of others were hospitalized with injuries ranging from minor to critical. A representative with the Texas Department of Public Safety says that many of the surviving victims suffered bone fractures. It is unclear what caused the Oklahoma-bound Cardinal Coach to crash or how the incident could have been prevented.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) reports that there was a decrease in fatal bus accidents from 325 in the year 2000 to 249 in the year 2010. During that same decade, inter-city buses accounted for 12 percent, school buses for 40 percent and transit buses for 35 percent of all buses involved in fatal crashes.
Injured victims of Oklahoma bus accidents have the right to pursue financial compensation for their suffering by filing a claim against the bus driver and/or the bus company. The family of a deceased bus accident victim may pursue financial compensation for their losses by filing a wrongful death claim. An experienced Oklahoma personal injury lawyer will be able to help injured bus accident victims and their families better understand their legal rights and options.
