Even after Texas officials clear the scene of a crash, that does not necessarily mean that the investigation is closed. An accident investigation can take several weeks or months to complete, depending on the circumstances involved and the extent of any outstanding evidence. This is especially true in crashes involving fatalities in which crucial witnesses failed to survive.
For instance, officials continue to investigate a fatal crash took place at approximately 4:20 a.m. on a recent Saturday in the westbound lanes of Interstate 10 near Cibolo. The preliminary investigation determined that a pickup truck traveling eastbound crossed into the westbound lanes and collided head-on with a commercial passenger bus. Fortunately, the bus was not carrying any passengers at the time of the crash.
The bus driver suffered injuries for which he was taken to an area hospital where he was last reported as being in stable condition. The three occupants of the pickup truck were ejected during the impact and suffered fatal injuries at the scene. Police do not yet know what factors led to the accident.
The answer to that question and others in this accident investigation is surely important for the families of the deceased passengers. Evidence will be needed in order to establish that the driver’s negligence caused or contributed to their deaths. Furthermore, the bus driver may be entitled to workers’ compensation benefits, but he could still file a personal injury claim against the estate of the deceased driver in a Texas civil court. Successfully litigated claims could result in awards of damages incurred in the aftermath of the crash.
Source: kens5.com, “Lanes closed on I-10 westbound near Cibolo after fatal crash“, Dec. 24, 2016
