The crash of a school bus carrying Sudbury middle school students left two dozen with a scare and minor injuries in January. After a collision with a pickup truck, the bus rolled over a guardrail and came to rest on its side. No one was seriously injured, but twenty-two students, the driver, and an adult bus monitor were evaluated at nearby hospitals and several were treated for superficial wounds.
Routine Trip Interrupted
The students were travelling home from Sudbury to Boston, a trip they make every day. The crash happened on Route 128 South between the Route 20 exit in Waltham and the exit for the Mass Pike in Weston around 12:45 p.m. on January 11. It snarled traffic for several hours.
By the time first responders, including the Weston Fire Department, had reached the scene, all those on the bus had safely exited. The school superintendent released a letter to the media shortly after the crash confirming the lack of serious injuries and thanking those on the scene for their quick response.
Driver Facing Charges
While it was initially reported that the bus driver had previous driving infractions and implied that he had been at fault, the investigation soon turned in a different direction. About a week after the crash, the driver of the pickup, a Belmont man, was issued a summons by police to appear in court to face charges of negligent operation of a motor vehicle, unsafe lane change, and failure to use care in passing.
The Massachusetts State Police determined that he had unsafely crossed multiple lanes of traffic at highway speed and struck the bus while changing lanes. The pickup driver had stayed at the scene after the crash.
Bus Crashes Rare
Bus crashes are uncommon events, but they do happen. Just two days earlier, a motorcoach operated by Peter Pan with five passengers had been involved in a crash that spilled more than 2,000 gallons of home heating oil from a tanker truck and ended with the bus crashing into a Granby home. There were two minor injuries in that crash.
Nationwide in 2015, there were fewer than 300 serious bus crashes and many of those involved city transit and intercity buses. School buses were involved in fatal crashes that claimed 107 lives that year, but the passengers were at little risk: Only ten school bus passengers died. Most victims were in other vehicles or were pedestrians. Based on crash data, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration estimates that buses are seven times safer than passenger cars and light trucks.
Boston Bus Accident Lawyer
When you or someone close to you has been harmed in a bus crash, you’re right to be less concerned with the cause and more concerned with making a full recovery. That’s why you should turn for help from a firm like the Law Offices of Joel H. Schwartz. Our attorneys have experience with the practice of bus accident law, and we know how to approach that kind of case to make sure that every detail is addressed and that victims are properly compensated for their injuries.
We offer a free consultation to every client to discuss their case, so you have nothing to lose. Give us a call today at 1-800-660-2270 or contact us online through the form below to schedule your appointment and learn more.