The National Transportation Safety Board joined forces with the Texas Department of Public Safety to determine what caused the erratic driver of a pickup truck to crash into a bus. As they continue the accident investigation, a number families mourn the loss of their loved ones. Another family wonders whether their loved one will leave the hospital where she is currently in critical condition.
On the day of the accident, 911 dispatchers received several calls regarding a pickup truck being operated erratically. As police attempted to locate the out-of-control vehicle, they received one final 911 call. This time, the call was to report a catastrophic crash. Apparently, the pickup careened from the northbound lane into the southbound lane and slammed head-on into a bus occupied by the driver and 13 people.
The 20-year-old driver of the pickup survived the crash with serious injuries. The only other survivor was a woman on the bus. At last report, she remained in critical condition in a San Antonio hospital. Because the investigation remains open, no word regarding what charges the driver of the pickup could face was reported. Not only do officials need to know what factors led to the crash, but the answers could help the families of the victims.
Each family and the critically injured woman could exercise their rights to file civil actions against the driver, regardless of what happens to him because of the official accident investigation. If the evidence provided to a Texas civil court establishes that the deaths and injuries suffered resulted from the pickup driver’s negligence, the court could consider awards of damages. No amount of money will bring back the deceased victims or heal the survivor’s wounds, but any compensation received could help with the financial losses associated with this tragedy.
Source: CNN, “NTSB investigates Texas church bus accident that left 13 dead“, Steve Almasy and Tina Burnside, March 30, 2017
