[profileleft]
[/profileleft]Tour buses are a common sight in Southern California. This is especially true on Interstate 10 as they take visitors to and from the desert communities. Casinos are among the many attractions in this area of the state. Traveling to casinos in a tour bus is a responsible choice. Many people are unfamiliar with local roads and some may be consuming alcohol. Statistics reveal that tour buses are relatively safe. Unfortunately, when something goes wrong with a tour bus the situation can quickly turn tragic. Sadly, that appears to be what occurred on Sunday morning. A tour bus crash near Palm Springs killed 13 people and at least 30 others were injured. Police are still gathering information regarding the cause of the crash.
Tour Bus Crash Details
The Desert Sun published an article detailing the tour bus crash. Those interested in reading it can find it here. According to the newspaper, the accident occurred just after 5 a.m. on Sunday morning. The tour bus was moving in a westbound direction on Interstate 10. It collided with the rear of a semi-truck near Indian Canyon Drive. The force of the collision was so severe that the bus cut through 15 feet of the back of the truck.
43 passengers were riding on the bus. Authorities believe that many of the passengers were international tourists. Government representatives had contacted officials from Mexico, Japan and Australia after the incident. The bus had left Red Earth Casino in Salton Sea and was returning to its origination point in Los Angeles. USA Holiday out of Los Angeles owns and operates the bus. The bus driver was among the 13 people killed. At least four people who were injured remain in critical condition.
Large Truck and Bus Accident Statistics
First and foremost, we’d like to offer our sincere condolences to the families and friends of the people who were killed in this terrible tragedy. We also hope that the people who were injured make fast and full recoveries and that a cause of the crash is identified soon. The National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the accident.
Secondly, this tour bus accident will add to the statistics regarding large truck and bus accidents that occur across the United States. According to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration, or FMCSA, approximately 130,000 people are injured in large truck and bus accidents every year and more than 4,000 people are killed. These numbers have dropped over the past 20 years, but that still equates to nearly 11 people losing their lives every day in these collisions.
How a Bus Accident Lawyer Can Help
The aftermaths of these tour bus accidents are always extremely complicated. Investigations take time, people who are injured or killed are often from faraway places and those who have been affected rarely know what to do in order to protect their legal rights. That’s why people who are forced into this type of a terrible situation need to obtain the help of a bus accident lawyer as soon as possible. If you have been injured or you have lost someone you love in a tour bus crash, contact Gomez Trial Attorneys as soon as possible to schedule a free initial consultation.
