Last weekend, a crash occurred between a school bus and a transfer truck, and 13 people were injured and had to be transported to an area hospital. The bus was transporting middle school football players and two coaches, totaling 35 people. Texas police are still investigating the auto accident, but the tractor trailer has been cited for disregarding a four-way stop.
Just after 9 p.m., the bus was transporting the players home from a game and traveling along the I-35 when it approached an intersection. While attempting to continue through the intersection, the bus was struck by an 18-wheeler. The incident injured 13 people on the bus with injuries varying from broken bones to head injuries, but, luckily, all 13 have now been released from the hospital.
The speed limit in the area is 30 mph, which police estimate may be a huge factor in why there were not more injuries. The transfer truck driver was cited at the scene of the accident for failing to yield at a red flashing light at the interstate indicating a four-way stop. However, even though police do not suspect that the school bus was speeding, the report does not indicate whether the driver of the 18-wheeler is suspected of speeding.
Even though the driver of the 18-wheeler was cited at the scene, indicating that the police initially suspect the driver to be at fault for the auto accident, the crash is still under investigation. Depending on the outcome of the investigation, the injured coaches and the families of the injured middle school students may pursue personal injury claims against the transfer truck driver and the driver’s employer. If the Texas personal injury claims are successful, the accident victims could be compensated for hospital bills as well as other damages permissible under Texas laws.
Source: kwtx.com, Students, Coaches Injured In Bus-Truck Crash Out Of Hospital, No author, Oct. 18, 2013