Bus crash in Fresno

[grantgoold]

Here is the link to a bus crash that happened over night just outside of Fresno. Five dead so far.

http://cbs13.com/local/fatal.bus.crash.2.1818675.html

[desi arnaz]

http://www.cnn.com/2010/US/07/22/california.bus.crash/index.html?hpt=T2

[Runcutter]

About 1 minute in on the CNN video, that looks like a converted 4104 going by. 

Arthur

[John316]

Imagine if that would have been a SS rig. There wouldn't have been anything but a pile of rubble...

Sad story.

I can only imagine how much control it would take not to swerve. Thanks for the tip.

God bless,

John

[RJ]

All -

Sadly, the driver of the Greyhound did not survive the crash.

This accident happened about four miles north of the Greyhound terminal here, so the chances of the driver falling asleep are slim/none, as they'd just finished a 20 minute rest stop.  Not sure yet, but it's possible that this stop also included a driver change, as Fresno's been a divided board for years, and the driver was based out of Sacramento.

Knowing the location of the accident, more than likely there wouldn't have been any fatalities had the coach remained on the freeway itself.  However, for whatever reason yet to be determined, the driver was unable to do so, and the coach careened down the embankment between the main travel lanes and the parallel off-ramp.  The trees separating the two are what killed everybody, not the initial collision with the overturned SUV.

No word yet whether the Chevy Trailblazer was already overturned when hit by the bus, or if it overturned when it was possibly clipped by the coach, or it clipped the coach making a lane change.  From what is known so far, things started with the bus hitting the SUV.

This happened right next to the huge UPS facility here in town, probably some of the employees were first on the scene to try and help.

For Google Earth folk, the accident coordinates are 36.45.50.20N  x 119.50.00.31W  (Not sure how to list those properly, degrees, hours, minutes, etc.)

Very sad day for the industry anytime fatalities are incurred.

I have a friend who's a CHP officer, will see about getting a copy of the accident report and share.  Be patient, it takes MAIT awhile.

FWIW & HTH. . .

 

[Busted Knuckle]

About 1 minute in on the CNN video, that looks like a converted 4104 going by. 

Arthur

Looked like an old Barth or Airostream S & S to me, but once I thought I was mistaken. But it turned out I was wrong!
  BK 

[Busted Knuckle]

RJ in the video the witness from another vehicle stated he saw the over turned SUV just before the bus hit it. Indicating it was already sitting there turned over with no visible lights and that the bus driver had zero time to react as he crested the incline of the highway and hit the SUV.
I wasn't there, just pointing out my take from a witness who was.
  BK   

[RJ]

BK -

I saw/heard that witness on the CNN link posted over on BNO after I shared my comments above. 

Apparently, the coach operator had virtually no time to react before the initial collision, as the CNN witness said he was making a lane change from #2 (middle) to #1 (fast), and the SUV was straddling #1.

Other news videos show that apparently the bus actually pushed the overturned SUV off the hiway in the process.  This makes me wonder if the initial impact damaged the steering linkages on the bus severely enough that the driver no longer could maintain any control.

FYI, this occurred on the S side of the 99/McKinley interchange.  The Olive Ave interchange 1/2 mile to the south is an under crossing (Olive Ave is at grade, the freeway underneath.)  From Olive to McKinley, it's a 1/2 mile gentle climb until the freeway crests as an over crossing at McKinley Ave - this collision happened BEFORE he reached the crest going NB.  It's also a straight section of roadway, so no curves involved, either.  It is, however, somewhat dark, as it is passing thru an industrial area.

As is common, as more details become available, early comments lose their validity.


SPECULATION ONLY:

1. It's possible, because the coach was involved in a lane change manoeuver, that the driver was slightly distracted checking his mirrors.

2. It's possible also that because of the lousy USDOT-code projector headlamps on that MCI, the coach operator was "overdriving his headlights", even if he was only doing 65 - 70 mph.

Please note that the above is pure speculation only, and not a condemnation of the driver or his skills.  Just a couple of thoughts that ran thru my head while watching/reading the news reports as they unfold.

Sad day. . .

[Len Silva]

I think it is practically impossible not to overdrive your headlights at 70 MPH, particularly if the target does not present a reflective surface, as in an overturned vehicle.

[bryanhes]

I used to live in Fresno back in the late 80's early 90's. Had a homeless man walk out in front of me as I was merging onto the highway in that same area. Was doing about 55 mph looked over my shoulder for traffic, looked back and he was right in the middle of my lane looking my direction. He never moved. I tried to swerve to avoid hitting him with no luck. He did not make it.
I will never forget that stretch of Highway.

Bryan

[RJ]

All -

Some updated info:

The accident occurred less than five miles from the Fresno Greyhound terminal. The coach would have spent approximately 20 minutes at the terminal, as it's considered a "meal stop".

Fresno's terminal for years has been a "split board" - half the drivers work south, half the drivers work north. San Luis Obispo is similar.

However, this particular schedule, apparently, is a "straight thru" run for the driver.

According to the local newspaper's evening on-line story, and based on his logbook, the driver signed on at 7:30 pm in LA, arriving in Fresno at 1:45 am, approximately 15 minutes behind schedule. After the 20 minute meal break, well, that put him in the wrong place at the wrong time, sadly.

Either way, tho, only five minutes after a departure would be very, very unusual for an operator to fall asleep.

Also, based on the posted schedule, the driver's out of his seat approximately every 30 - 45 minutes, except for the section between Bakersfield & Fresno, so that helps combat the fatigue factor somewhat.

The newspaper has also reported that the coroner's office said that the driver died instantly from massive injuries, and that he was a 32-year veteran employee of Greyhound with a spotless safety record.

Of the six fatalities, three were occupants of the SUV that the bus initially hit.  Makes sense - 3500 lbs stationary vs 35,000 lbs @ 65 mph.

When you look at photos of the bus, it's absolutely amazing that only three out of the 36 people on board the coach did not survive.

Still, a sad day for the industry, and for the families of all involved.

FWIW & HTH. . .

[Busted Knuckle]

I totally agree it was a sad day for the industry was well as those families of those lost!

I vaguely know the area you are talking about, but it's been many yrs since I drove truck and frequented Fresno, so my memory is not real clear on the exact grades/slopes/curves etc. I was only going on the comment that the witness made; "as he crested there was the overturned SUV blocking his lane, he didn't even have time to brake!"

I also know if it had been 2-3 hrs later he'd had to cut the fog to see! At least that's the way it used to seem to me every time I was there in the early AM (3-7)
  BK 

[BG6]

Apparently, the coach operator had virtually no time to react before the initial collision, as the CNN witness said he was making a lane change from #2 (middle) to #1 (fast), and the SUV was straddling #1.

Other news videos show that apparently the bus actually pushed the overturned SUV off the hiway in the process.  This makes me wonder if the initial impact damaged the steering linkages on the bus severely enough that the driver no longer could maintain any control.

Uh . . .from the information so far presented here, my guess is that the driver was killed in the initial impact, leaving the coach pilotless for the remaining several hundred feet of its journey.

1)  The SUV was in the #1 lane (to the left)
2)  The coach was changing lanes to the left, so ANY impact on the front would likely have been on the left front corner, where the driver was sitting, especially if he tried to swerve back into the #2 lane.

The chain of events is one of tragic timing.  If he had been there a couple of minutes earlier, there would have been no SUV in the way.  A couple of minutes later, there would have been stopped traffic and brake lights.  If he had decided to change lanes half a mile earlier his eyes would have been to the front and he might have stopped in time, or been going slow at the time of impact (even lights out and upside down, there are plenty of reflectors on the SUV that the driver would have noticed that there was a Just Not Right condition in his lane).  Changing lanes a mile later would have meant eyes front and room to move to the right and miss the SUV.

I predict the following findings from AIT:

1)  The driver of the SUV is ultimately at fault, possibly alcohol-related, for losing control of the SUV and creating a hazard.
2)  The coach driver made an attempt to swerve back into the #2 lane.
3)  The driver and occupants of the SUV were killed in the initial impact, and the two passengers killed when the bus went off the road.
4)  The coach driver will be noted to have had attention on mirrors and possibly driving over the limit in an attempt to catch up to schedule, but unless there is a recording speedometer on the coach, they won't be able to be certain (you can't figure speed from marks on the ground in an accident like this one).

[happycamperbrat]

Bryan, that is my worst nightmare and one very big reason I dont like driving at night. I am sooooo sorry. And this entire accident in Fresno makes me sick to my stomach. I just pray for all the families  My kids and I with some other friends on my bus went thru that same area just within the last couple of weeks. How very tragic this is!