Bus crash kills two, injures a dozen in Irving

A Cardinal Coach Line bus headed to an Oklahoma casino overturned on April 12, killing two elderly passengers and injuring scores more. The accident, which occurred on State Highway 161 near Belt Line Road, killed an 81-year-old woman and her fellow 69-year-old bus passenger.

Authorities report that the driver in the car accident had been involved in at least one injurious collision in the past; the 65-year-old bus operator was charged with criminally negligent homicide after a crash 15 years ago. The man was never formally indicted by Dallas officials, so he avoided penalties associated with the charge.

The driver of the bus was seriously injured in the crash, along with 11 other passengers. Six of those victims remain in intensive care units at local hospitals, while the remaining victims are housed on regular floors. Three other passengers were released from the hospital later in the week.

The charter bus company has not been investigated for serious crashes in the past, in fact displaying an impeccable safety record during the past several years. Cardinal Coach Line will be the subject of a federal investigation from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).

Witness reports show that the bus may have blown a tire; it is not yet clear whether the driver was at fault for this mechanical failure. Good Samaritans rushed to pull victims from the wreckage after the bus toppled over barriers on the highway, rescuing the primarily elderly passengers of the charter coach line. Of the forty people on board, about 16 sustained injuries. The majority of the passengers were not wearing seatbelts, according to reports from the scene.

Firefighters and other emergency responders rushed to the scene to assist, with several victims receiving transportation from hospital helicopters. Most of the injured parties were taken to area hospitals in Dallas and Irving.

In this case, it is not clear whether the driver is fully responsible for the crash. In fact, the tire manufacturer or bus maintenance personnel may be entirely at fault for the injurious accident. Victims in the case could seek financial compensation from the driver, tire manufacturer and bus company in order to pay for medical bills, pain and suffering and other civil claims.

If you have been hurt in a vehicle collision because of someone else's negligence, call the personal injury team at Guest and Gray Law Firm. Scott Gray is Chief of the Personal Injury division and he is ready to fight for you and your family. Scott has dedicated his career to helping injured Texans get their life back on track after a mass transit accident and he is currently taking new clients in Dallas County. Consultations are always free and confidential. If you are injured, Scott can come to you. Call today.