A Burlington Trailways bus accident was one of several fatal bus crashes in the month of December. The fatal accident killed a young college student and left four others injured. Other crashes serious crashes reported this month in Georgia and Texas left two dead and countless others with injuries.
The University of Iowa Student Dies After Burlington Trailways Bus Accident in Chicago
Chicago, Illinois
A 22-year-old student from the University of Iowa sustained injuries that she could not recover from on Monday, December 28, in a fatal bus accident in Chicago. Nicole M. Underwood, of Des Moines, Iowa was taken to Mount Sinai Hospital with critical injuries after the 6:40 a.m. Burlington Trailways bus accident. She was later pronounced dead.
Authorities say the bus was northbound on Interstate 55 heading into Chicago when the driver lost control and collided with a freeway sign near Damen Avenue. According to ABC 7 Chicago, the bus driver said he was forced to take evasive action prior to the crash because a pickup truck veered into his lane. The onboard GPS system showed the bus traveling at 49 miles-per-hour in a 55 miles-per-hour zone.
Underwood, a senior studying to be a therapist at the University of Iowa, was among five people who sustained injuries in the Burlington Trailways bus accident. Of the other four, two were taken to St. Anthony Hospital and the others were taken to Mercy Hospital. They were all reportedly in stable condition with injuries not considered life-threatening.
Underwood’s relatives told news outlets that the 22-year-old was on her way to Chicago to spend New Year’s Eve with her boyfriend. A “Go Fund Me” page has been set up to raise money for a scholarship in Underwood’s honor.
Burlington Trailways has said the company is cooperating with investigators. Per company policy, the unidentified bus driver will be subjected to a routine drug test.
The cause of the Burlington Trailways bus accident is still under investigation.
Greyhound Bus Accident in Arlington Leaves One Dead, 17 Others Injured
Arlington, Texas
A Greyhound bus collided with a disabled SUV on Sunday, December 20, killing one person and injuring 17 others. The fatal bus accident happened just after 5:30 a.m. on the westbound side of Interstate 30 in Arlington, Texas.
The sequence of events leading up to the fatal crash began when witnesses reported seeing an SUV driving erratically on I-30. The SUV ended up crashing into a carpool lane divider on the highway near Center Street.
According to the Dallas Morning News, emergency responders were on their way to the crash site when a call came in saying a Greyhound bus had collided with the crashed SUV. One of the occupants of the SUV, 28-year-old Torie Davis, was pronounced dead at the scene. The other occupant, an unidentified man, was airlifted to John Peter Smith Hospital in Fort Worth with critical injuries.
The bus was taking 40 passengers to Amarillo when the accident happened. Sixteen passengers were taken to area hospitals, though none of the injuries were listed as life-threatening. According to a Greyhound spokesperson, all of the injured passengers are expected to be released from the hospital later Sunday.
Law enforcement officials were able to interview the Greyhound driver, and the bus was equipped with a camera. The footage should answer questions as to how this accident happened. The investigation continues.
School Bus Accident Leaves One Dead, Six Elementary School Kids Injured
North Hall County, Georgia
The driver of a passenger vehicle was killed and six elementary school students were injured in a school bus accident on the afternoon of Tuesday, December 1. The fatal bus accident happened near the intersection of Cleveland Highway and Whitmire Circle in Hall County.
According to law enforcement officials, school bus driver Vanessa Clark of Clermont failed to yield at the intersection and collided with a Mitsubishi Galant driven by Sabrina Tench. Witnesses tried to get Tench out of her vehicle, but it became apparent that the 52-year-old Cleveland woman had died in the wreck.
Officials say 31 students from Wauka Mountain Multiple Intelligences Academy were on the school bus at the time. Six students who sustained minor injuries in the school bus accident were taken to Northeast Georgia Medical Center.
According to the Gainesville Times, Clark has been charged for her role in the crash with second-degree vehicular homicide and failure to yield after a stop sign.
Bus Accident Attorney
Any number of circumstances can lead to a bus accident like those described above. As you can see, many individuals suffer serious injuries or even death when they are involved in a bus accident. During these difficult times, you need a helping hand to guide you through the process of obtaining justice on behalf of those who were harmed.
If you or a loved one sustained injuries in a bus accident, you have rights. Bus companies are responsible for providing safe transportation. In the event that they fail in this capacity, they need to be held responsible.
Contact a bus accident attorney at Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman today for a no-cost case evaluation.
