apparently 3-4 persons on the bus, driver survived one passenger killed all injured in Alaska near Denali/Cantwell.
PS I posted over at BNO too, should be here also i guess.
(https://scontent-a.xx.fbcdn.net/hphotos-xfa1/v/t1.0-9/10645048_10152215272851666_545762046642462741_n.jpg?oh=2fa0e5a4568f0f4fe3ec1cfd33620df6&oe=549D73AF)
(https://fbcdn-sphotos-e-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-xpa1/v/t1.0-9/10622752_10152215272846666_688494426815152805_n.jpg?oh=f84a4e65cd365312c8a0cee89bc3ac4f&oe=548A4E22&__gda__=1419179336_e548e08adcdba34eebf35afedcfe6e57)
Buses don't do good on the top in a wreck a weak point on all makes, that is nasty I wonder what happen the tires look ok
Wet, maybe going a little to fast for the conditions, maybe a moose or bear on the road?
That is one of the Buses from the Princess Cruise Line Tours.
Yea and a MCI makes one wonder about the Feds as they are making the S/S manufactures build cages on the front to prevent injury to the driver and passenger compartment
The latest reports are speed and skill...Bus passed a DOT 2 weeks ago....
http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/speed-cited-as-factor-in-fatal-tour-bus-crash/27908116 (http://www.ktuu.com/news/news/speed-cited-as-factor-in-fatal-tour-bus-crash/27908116)
8 am. . . rain. . . Alaska. . . 30o temps. . .
Possibly a patch of black ice in a shady spot?
FWIW. . .
:'(
Friend of mine came upon this crash shortly after emergency crews had arrived. He said it was a straight section right out of a curve. The reports
are saying speed was a factor. I expect the guy probably dropped a wheel off the edge and overcorrected. Sad someone was killed, but could
have been much worse if the bus were loaded with tourists.
Our grandson works for Princess at the shop that maintains that bus. Their investigation did not find mechanical problems. They think the bus could have hydroplaned and hit the shoulder of the road that was soft. The state patrol will have a report and our grandson will let me know. If you are interested I will post the finding. The person that was killed worked at the lodge, very sad. Our grandson takes this personally.
Wayne
The Canadian papers has already posted what the police think caused it they are saying drivers error
Speed, speed and more speed, Most of all roll overs are over correcting and speed. simple as that! As soon as drivers figure that out the better we all will be. Ok i will get off my box now ;D
The drivers in Alaska for the cruise lines are primarily teachers that are off for the summer and college kids looking for a summer adventure job. Far from professional drivers. Somehow they usually pull it off without too many wrecks but it's scary seeing those kids handle buses up there.
I drive for another company and was on that same road not long after the crash. There was no black ice, just a wet road. This is speculation only, but I believe a very inexperienced driver, going too fast, maybe dozed a little, ran a front wheel off the road and when he overcorrected, coach rolled over. And it was not mile 173, as reported, it was about 8 miles south of 173......Bill
The company I drive for does not hire inexperienced drivers. I have been with my company for 14 years. Some companies hire new, inexperienced drivers every year, and sadly, Princess and Holland are two of those companies....Bill
Those drivers are getting experience so they can drive for a company that requires experience. If they live long enough.
Having been Director of Safety and Training at Ship N Shore (Another Tour Company) in Alaska for several years
and driving about two weeks at Princess, I offer the following:
Princess Tours in Alaska hires primarily college kids from Utah.
These drivers have NO experience.
They are placed in a training program at Princess Alaska.
They are given their B CDL driver test by a Princess designee.
These drivers contract for the season and have no intention of continuing driving after the contract.
I doubt any of them could get hired at another Tour Company.
I know they haul passengers but you have the same stuff with people buying the bus conversions I have watched before at Marathon a guy writes the check for $$$$$$$$ conversion
They show him how to work the gadgets drive around in the parking lot for a few times throw him the keys smiling send him on his way for the driving public with families to dodge
It happen to friend he wrecked his H-45 before he reached Grants Pass he sold the bus and has never owned another one since said he wasn't going to chance killing someone. 18 or 50 what is the difference if you don't know how to drive a beast ?
In Tulsa I was next door to Jefferson Bus Lines from MN I saw the training they gave bus drivers not much no way in hell would I ever have ridden on one of their buses,
They were lucky most of the time their new drivers would kill the running gear before they had a chance to be involved in a wreck
How can the roof structure collapse like that? Was there an undetected major weakness? Did the bus actually roll several times? So many answers yet unknown. FWIW, Crown Supercoaches, (1976+- to 1991) had a 4130 Chrome Molly roll bar across the roof...every 17 inches! Perhaps time will give us more information. Very sad. HB of CJ (old coot) :(