Train hits bus in Evans City; one dead, 10 injured.

Date: 04/26/2013
Time: Around 8:10 A.M.
Location: Evans City, Pennsylvania
Vehicle(s) Involved: Ford E-450 bus, train

By Molly Born, Liz Navratil and Jonathan D. Silver / Pittsburgh Post-Gazette

A rural Butler County railroad crossing where a freight train carrying asphalt collided Friday with a paratransit bus in heavy fog -- killing one person and injuring 10 others -- lacked warning lights and swinging gate arms to halt traffic.

For unknown reasons the bus ended up with its passengers -- elderly and disabled adults -- atop the tracks at Maple Avenue in Evans City around 8:10 a.m., when the 31-car train slammed into its driver's side, knocking the vehicle askew and totaling it.

Two critically injured passengers were flown by medical helicopter to Pittsburgh-area hospitals. One of them, 91-year-old Claudette Miller of Callery, died at Allegheny General Hospital at 1:02 p.m., according to the Allegheny County medical examiner's office.

The other remained in critical condition, and Evans City police Chief Joseph McCombs said the passenger might not survive.

Everyone else on the bus, including the driver -- identified by Chief McCombs as Frank Schaffner, 59, of Butler -- was taken by ambulance to hospitals in Allegheny and Butler counties. Hospital officials said their injuries were not life-threatening.

Conflicting accounts emerged about whether the driver was stopped or in the process of crossing the tracks when the crash occurred. Also unclear was the role the fog played.

"For some unknown reason, it stopped directly in the crossing," Chief McCombs said of the bus. Police said the train's engineer told them he sounded the horn "numerous times."

Chief McCombs said the bus, which was going east toward South Washington Street, entered the crossing and did not move as the Allegheny Valley Railroad train -- composed of two locomotives and 29 cars -- was approaching.

The train was believed to be moving around 25 mph -- the speed limit -- according to information provided to federal inspectors by the engineer and conductor.

The engineer saw the bus, sounded the horn several times and applied the brakes before the crash, which Chief McCombs described as "pretty chaotic" with "pretty severe impact."

Michael Robb, executive director of the Alliance for Nonprofit Resources Inc., which oversees the program under whose auspices the passengers were being transported, relayed a different version of events.

"I don't believe the bus stopped on the train tracks at all. He stopped prior to the tracks as he's required and as he was crossing the tracks he was hit," Mr. Robb said.

"It really is at the driver's discernment whether a train was coming. I do not know if the train blew the whistle or not. All I know is that our driver was conscious enough to give his report to local authorities that he stopped. As he was crossing he was struck by the train."

Mr. Robb said he had not spoken to the driver. He expressed sympathy to the victims and said transportation services will continue.


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Bestival Festival coach crash kills three returning to Liverpool.

Date: 09/10/2012
Time: Around 12:00 A.M.
Location: Hindhead, Surrey, England, United Kingdom
Vehicle(s) Involved: Bus

By Peter Guy - Liverpool Echo

"THREE people were killed and dozens more injured after a coach carrying Bestival festival-goers back to Merseyside crashed in Surrey.

The 51-seater Merseypride Travel coach was on its way back from Bestival in the Isle of Wight when it smashed into a tree on an embankment off the A3 at Hindhead shortly before midnight.
Three people - including the driver - were declared dead at the scene and one of the passengers was airlifted to Southampton General Hospital with what were described
as "life-changing injuries".
The rest of the passengers, some with serious injuries, were taken to the Royal Surrey County Hospital in Guildford, St Peter's Hospital in Chertsey, St George's Hospital in Tooting, King's College Hospital in London, Frimley Park Hospital and Queen Alexandra Hospital in Portsmouth.
Speaking from the scene, Inspector Richard Mallett said 53 people were thought to have been on board.
He said: "We are dealing with a major incident, a tragic major incident. The coach has gone off the road and had a significant impact with a tree, I think that is the best way to describe it.
"The bodies are still trapped inside the vehicle. As you can imagine it is a very delicate operation to remove them. With all due respect to them we need to get them out properly."
He added: "We are confident that there is no-one left in the vehicle alive. Our colleagues from the fire and ambulance service with their specialist teams have been through the vehicle. It is a body recovery operation at this point here."
The coach was heading northbound when it crashed between the Hindhead tunnel and the Thursley exit. No other vehicles were thought to have been involved in the crash.
Surrey Police is working with Merseyside Police and Merseypride to identify the passengers and notify relatives.
Surrey Police assistant chief constable Jerry Kirkby said: "This has been declared a major incident and we are working with our colleagues from the other emergency services and other partner agencies to provide a coordinated response in line with agreed protocols.
"Our thoughts remain with the relatives of the dead and the injured at this time and we are working very hard to notify their next of kin."
A spokesman for Speke-based Merseypride Travel said: "Our condolences go out to the families of the bereaved."
It is understood the coach set off from Aintree on Wednesday for the music festival.
After being medically assessed passengers were being taken to a rest centre set up nearby and managed by Waverley Borough Council.
The centre is based at Thursley Village Hall, a hamlet less than two miles north of the crash scene.Casualties were being offered food and drink and beds.
Leader of Waverley Borough Council Cllr Robert Knowles said the centre "would be open as long as required".
He added: "My thoughts go out to these people - this is a dreadful thing."
Crews from Surrey Police, Surrey Fire and Rescue and South East Coast Ambulance Service attended the scene last night. The road was closed in both directions.
Concerned family and friends should call the casualty bureau on 0800 0560154.
To find out details on how to get to the rest centre contact Waverley Borough Council on 01483 523333.
Passengers had been returning from Bestival - a festival which ran from Thursday to Sunday in Robin Hill Country Park, near Newport in the Isle of Wight.
Acts including Stevie Wonder and Florence and the Machine performed over the weekend.
Fellow festival-goers took to the event's Facebook page this morning to express their sympathies.
Anna Whelan wrote: "A day for rainbows. Thinking of all the families affected by the A3 accident this morning."
Alison Scott wrote: "After an incredible weekend, spare a thought for anyone involved in the terrible coach tragedy yesterday. Bless you all xxxx.""

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Passengers escape injuries as open-topped bus overturns in Dorset.

Date: 07/31/2008
Time: Around 8:30 A.M.
Location: Dorset, England, United Kingdom
Vehicle(s) Involved: Volkswagen Golf, Porsche 911, bus

By Richard Savill and John Bingham 

"Fifteen people, including several children, were sent tumbling from the double-decker but walked away with only minor injuries after a "soft landing" on heather. 

The driver of a black Porsche turbo car was arrested at the scene after the accident on a coastal route through National Trust land near Studland in Dorset.

It is believed the car collided with a red Volkswagen Golf on a bend moments before the bus - a regular Swanage to Bournemouth service popular with tourists - approached.

As the bus driver attempted unsuccessfully to avoid a knock-on crash, the 15-ton bus toppled over a verge and slid down an embankment onto the adjoining heath land.

Those on top were sent tumbling onto the ground while passengers in the lower deck scrambled for fire exits.

Emergency services declared a "major incident", even temporarily requisitioning the nearby ferry to the exclusive Sandbanks peninsula to help with the rescue effort.
But of the 30 people classed as injured, most suffered only shock or cuts and bruises.
Police said the worst injury was a 61-year-old woman's broken arm.
The four occupants of the Golf, a couple and two young children, were airlifted by coastguard helicopter to Dorset County Hospital in Dorchester with cuts and bruises and five others were taken away by ambulance for check-ups.
But 20 others needed little more than a cup of tea at the nearby Knoll House Hotel.
The helicopter then scoured the surrounding heath land with heat-seeking equipment to ensure no one had been left unaccounted for.
Most of those on board the bus were believed to be holidaymakers and children's inflatable beach toys were left scattered around it.
Passenger Rachel Eveling, 41, from Alderbury, Wilts, said: “There was a little girl screaming as her mum was lying on top of her, she was screaming 'get off me’ as her mum could not seem to move.
“I also saw an elderly couple with a child who were very upset.
“It was actually quite amazing as some people began to get up very quickly and it became apparent no-one was seriously hurt.”
Jock Nairn, station manager for Weymouth fire station, said: "The bus rolled down an embankment and ended up rolling on its side, throwing the passengers clear.
"When the fire crew from Swanage arrived there was a lot of confusion as a lot of the casualties were lying some way clear of the bus on the heath land.
"Luckily the heather and gorse was nice and soft and that appears to have broken their fall. They were very lucky."
Dorset Police arrested a 43-year-old man from Wimborne on suspicion of dangerous driving. He suffered superficial injuries in the crash.
"I think the (bus) driver has tried to avoid the collision and has taken that route off the verge into the gorse," Senior investigating officer Sergeant Nikki Burt said.
"It's the drop that has caused the bus to topple.
"I think the toppling over was slow as opposed to people being flung out and I think that is due to the skill of the driver."
Steve Smith, from Dorset Ambulance Service, said: "The passengers were a mixture of ages but there were some young children who were injured.
"It was incredibly lucky that there were no fatalities or more serious injuries."
Chris Harris, a spokesman for Wilts and Dorset bus company, said the route was run all-year round but extra buses are laid on during the summer, including open-topped.
"It is a very, very popular run, the scenery is magnificent," he said.
He added that the company was "very, very sorry"."

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Ocean Highway bus accident kills one, leaves another in critical condition.

Date: 07/17/2012
Time: Around 7:00 P.M.
Location: Pawleys Island, South Carolina
Vehicle(s) Involved: Dodge Ram, bus

By WMBF News Staff

"PAWLEYS ISLAND, SC (WMBF) – The Highway 17 crash between a bus and a pickup truck has claimed the life of one person Tuesday night and left another in critical condition.

Bob Beebe, spokesman for Midway Fire Rescue, says a collision between a 1997 Dodge pickup truck and a Williamsburg County Transit bus on Highway 17 and Beaumont Road occurred just before 7 p.m. Tuesday and it claimed the life of the pickup truck driver, (censored) 47, of Pawleys Island, due to head trauma and left one bus passenger in critical condition. 
Officials say the bus driver, Joshua McCrea, of Kingstree, SC was traveling south when the truck crossed Highway17 and the bus struck the truck's driver's side.
Coroner Kenny Johnson tells WMBF News an autopsy is scheduled for Smith Wednesday morning at Grand Strand Regional Medical Center.
According to Beebe, there were 19 patients total and 12 were transported to the hospital. Three patients were taken to the Grand Strand Regional Hospital, two were taken to the Waccamaw Community Hospital and seven were taken to the Georgetown Memorial Hospital.
South Carolina Highway Patrol is investigating the incident, and Midway Fire Rescue officials say the bus had a surveillance camera onboard.  South Carolina Highway Patrol will reportedly review the footage to see who was a fault.
First responders from Murrells Inlet, Horry County and Georgetown City and County assisted the Midway Fire Rescue in their response.
Beebe confirmed, the southbound and northbound lanes have been opened and the accident scene has been cleared.
Alfonzo Allen, a friend to Smith, says he witnessed the crash, and he believes Smith never saw the bus coming.
"[Smith] was just easing out [onto the road] to go home, and I guess he didn't see the bus," Allen said. "The bus tried to miss him, and hit him."
Allen says he can't imagine life without his friend Smith in it.
"It's hard for me right because that's my best friend, somebody I look up to," Allen said. "That's my brother, my friend.""

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Greyhound crash.

Date: 04/27/2009
Time: Around 6:55 A.M.
Location: Near Riverside, Alabama
Vehicle(s) Involved: Bus

By Rick Zerby - AL.com

"Emergency personnel at the crash site. According to Public Information Officer Charles Dysart a Greyhound bus that departed from Atlanta Georgia heading towards Jackson Mississippi crashed on I-20 West bound, near exit 166. The driver's side front tire blew causing the driver to loose control of the bus. It then hit the guard rail and slammed into the bridge. 21 of the 32 passengers onboard were injured, but no life threatening injuries or fatalities occurred. The crash occurred about 6:55 am. Birmingham News Photo/Emma Tannenbaum"

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Driver Seriously Injured After Car Slams Into Bus.

Date: 05/25/2012
Time: Afternoon
Location: West Hempstead, New York
Vehicle(s) Involved: Bus, Kia Optima

By Lou Minutoli

"A woman was seriously injured Friday afternoon when her car plowed into the rear of a public bus that was stopped on Woodfield Road in West Hempstead.
The NICE bus, which was carrying roughly 15 passengers aboard, was stopped at the corner of Elm Street when the sedan slammed into the rear. According to one source at the scene, the woman may have been texting while driving when the accident occurred.
A male driver stopped by the Lakeview firehouse on Woodfield Road to report the accident, according to Lakeview Fire Chief Heather Senti. Upon investigation, Lakeview firefighters headed to the scene, where they found the vehicle and notified the West Hempstead Fire Department, as this section of Woodfield Road is located in West Hempstead's fire district. They responded with their ambulance as did Nassau County Police, and attended to the injured driver.
Traffic on the busy street was shut down in both directions as police investigate the accident."


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