Missouri School Bus Crash Kills Student, Pickup Truck Driver and Injures Several Others
A serious school bus collision in Missouri that occurred around 10:30 a.m. on August 5 has killed one student and the driver of the pickup truck involved in the collision. The Associated Press reports that the chain-reaction freeway accident on Interstate 44 west of St. Louis also involved a tractor trailer cab and another school bus. The buses were transporting as many as 50 high school band members from St. James to a Six Flags theme park.
While investigation into this fatal Missouri school bus accident is ongoing, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported that slowed traffic near a construction zone caused the pickup truck to crash into the back of the tractor trailer. One of the school buses then collided into the pickup truck from behind and was then rear-ended by the other bus. Dozens of children have been taken to local hospitals to treat injuries that are not reported to be life-threatening.
The responsibility of school bus drivers to safely transport children is significant, as is the importance of drivers receiving thorough training that meets state and federal standards. School buses should frequently be checked for any vehicle components that may require maintenance or repair.
While Missouri school bus accidents between the years of 2006-2008 only accounted for 0.7% of all traffic collisions as reported by the MO Department of Transportation, when these types of crashes do occur, children are at risk of sustaining serious injury or even death due to most school buses lacking seat belts and airbags. None of the nine individuals killed in accidents involving school buses throughout 2006-2008 were occupants of the bus. However, of the 79 individuals seriously injured in accidents involving school buses, 24 were passengers of the school bus.
Due to the many complexities surrounding a school bus accident, Missouri school bus crash attorneys must be highly familiar with the laws surrounding these types of collisions in relation to personal injury and wrongful death litigation. At Page Law, our legal team has handled a wide range of bus accident cases, helping injury victims and family members of wrongful death victims receive the compensation that they deserve. For a free consultation with a skilled St. Louis bus accident lawyer, please call 314-322-8515 today.
