On January 22, 2021, a tour bus on its way to the Grand Canyon left the roadway in a rollover accident that killed at least one person and injured 40 others. The fatal Grand Canyon tour bus crash happened at around 12:20 p.m. on Diamond Bar Road northwest of Kingman, Arizona.
According to media reporting, the bus was making its way toward Grand Canyon National Park when it left the roadway and rolled onto its side. Shelley Ann Voges, 53, of Boonville, Indiana was pronounced dead at the scene. Three people sustained critical injuries and were rushed to area hospitals. Two of the three would later be transported to a hospital in Las Vegas, Nevada for further treatment. Others injured in the Arizona crash were treated and released from area hospitals.
Most of the passengers aboard the tour bus were United States residents, according to officials. They were on a tour of the Hoover Dam and Grand Canyon West provided by Comedy on Deck, a company that utilizes professional comedians as guides for guests to visit tourist destinations. The company began the practice of using comedians as tour guides so the bus driver could focus on driving and not have to do two jobs simultaneously.
Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) records show that Comedy on Deck paid a $1,980 settlement approximately 10 years ago for violating a policy barring commercial vehicles from operating without authorization from federal transportation officials. FMCSA has not provided further details on the settlement.
What Caused the Tour Bus Crash in Arizona?
Authorities have not commented on the official cause of the Arizona tour bus crash, though speed is believed to be a factor. No other vehicles were involved and weather at the time was not likely a factor.
Lake Mohave Ranchos Fire District Chief Tim Bonney interviewed several of the tour bus passengers in the aftermath of the rollover crash. According to Bonney, some of the passengers said the bus driver was driving at a high rate of speed before the accident occurred.
The remote area of Arizona has seen previous fatal tour bus crashes. In 2016, four Chinese citizens were killed when the van they were in collided with a tour bus carrying staff members from the Dallas Cowboys football team. The bus was on its way to Las Vegas for a preseason promotional event.
In 2009, a tour bus overturned near Hoover Dam on U.S. 93, killing several people and leaving others injured. The bus was making a return trip after visiting the Grand Canyon.
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If you or a member of your family have been the victim of a bus crash, contact the accident lawyers at Baum Hedlund today to schedule a free initial consultation: (855) 948-5098.
