Louisiana residents may have heard that a tour bus overturned on Delaware State Route 1 killing two women and sending 47 people to the hospital on Sept. 21. The bus failed to negotiate a curve on the ramp at the Tybouts Corner from southbound Route 1. The passengers were headed back to New York City after sightseeing in Washington, D.C.
The dead were identified as a 30-year-old woman, who died at the hospital, and a New York City woman, 54, who died at the accident site. The bus driver, 56, suffered minor injuries. Of the injured passengers, twenty were transported to Christiana Hospital. Injuries varied from head and neck trauma to fractured ribs, among others.
The accident happened at about 4:20 in New Castle County. According to reports, the bus slid down an embankment on its roof and ended up lying on the driver’s side. The bus is owned by a New York based company. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration was expected to investigate.
A serious accident may result when a vehicle negotiates a curve at a higher than advisable speed. In addition, commercial vehicles have greater safety concerns, and the speed that is appropriate on a curve is determined by the weight and height. Brakes are subject to routine and detailed maintenance.
When an accident such as this happens, passengers may be injured or killed. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the company and the driver may be considered negligent and liable.
An attorney may help injured individuals or the family of someone who died in a similar case by reviewing accident reports and the NHTSA’s account of the accident. The attorney may file a wrongful death suit to recover damages for the family or a personal injury suit for the injured.
Source: Delaware Online,”2 killed, 48 hurt in Del. 1 tour bus crash,” Esteban Parra and Robin Brown, Sept. 21, 2014
Source: FOX News, “Two dead, 47 hospitalized after bus overturns in Delaware“, September 22, 2014
