A bus accident in New York City in 2017 that left three people dead and several more injured was likely caused by a thermos rolling around on the floor. That’s the tentative conclusion from the year-long investigation into the crash by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB).
In September of 2017, a motor coach ran through an intersection at 60 miles per hour and smashed into a New York City Transit Authority bus at full speed. This Flushing bus accident killed the motor coach operator, a passenger in the city bus, and a pedestrian.
Because of the nature of the crash, the NTSB was called in to investigate. After examing extensive evidence, collecting numerous witness statements and expert opinions, the agency concluded that it’s likely the thermos they found in the wreckage may have rolled under the motor coach’s brake pedal making it impossible for the driver to stop at the red light.
The conclusion fits with the audio file that was captured by an onboard recorder just an instant before the crash which contains the sound of metal scraping and the driver cursing. However, the NTSB stopped short of saying the thermos was the definitive cause of the crash because the thermos theory still wouldn’t explain why the bus accelerated just moments before entering the intersection.
Indeed, the official report states that the driver was “conscious and aware of the hazardous conditions preceding the crash but was unable to control the vehicle’s speed.” While the agency found no evidence that the driver’s training, experience, or familiarity with the roads contributed to the crash, that does not negate the ability of surviving family members of the victims to hold the bus company resposible for the loss of their loved ones. The bus company must still explain why their driver was driving so fast and ignored the red light which caused this terrible bus accident attorney in New York City.
If you’ve been injured by a negligent bus driver, you need an experienced New York City bus accident attorney on your side. Call the Law Offices of Nussin S. Fogel at 800-734-9338 or 212-385-1122 today.