One dead, dozens taken to hospital after bus crash in Albertville

Workers clean up the scene after a tour bus rolled over, killing one student and injured dozens more early this morning on Interstate 94 in Albertville.

[Disgruntled Outstater]

When are we going stop sending school kids willy-nilly for extracurriculars?

[Lyle]

This tragedy is very unexpected. Richards has a "Satisfactory" Federal DOT SAFER Safety Rating and has had zero out of services on 81 inspections in the 24 months through April 3rd. The national out of service average is 23.14%. This would indicate Richards is a safe operator that maintains their equipment and complies with the law. Whatever the cause, the thoughts of th Minnesota Transportation Community are with the families of the victims, the other passengers, the driver, and Richards staff.

[jcf817]

When are we going to realize that driving tired is almost as bad as driving drink. I can almost guarantee that we'll find out the driver fell asleep. What were they doing driving back from Chicago overnight?

[jmark127]

jcf817, probably about the same time that the armchair commentators with 20/20 hindsight and no real knowledge of the facts surrounding accidents realize that they may just be accidents. As a chaperone on trips similar to this one, I have seen how the logistics work. Why don't we wait for the facts to come out before posting something irrelevant to the situation.

[jcf817]

jmark127 wrote:

jcf817, probably about the same time that the armchair commentators with 20/20 hindsight and no real knowledge of the facts surrounding accidents realize that they may just be accidents. As a chaperone on trips similar to this one, I have seen how the logistics work. Why don't we wait for the facts to come out before posting something irrelevant to the situation.

Jeez. Cool down for one second. The fact remains that it was very early morning...so it would appear they left Chicago somewhere close to 11PM or Midnight. I would put money on a bet that the driver fell asleep. You seem to by implying that I don't think it's an accident. It's still an accident...albeit an easily preventable one...even if the driver did fall asleep. Really, all I'm saying is that at first blush that is the way it reads and sounds. The truth will out.

[Lyle]

There were two buses with three drivers. One driver is in riding cush in "on duty not driving" status at any give time. This is a very common and legal practice to avoid fatigue and comply with Federal Hours of Service Regulations.

jcf817 wrote:

When are we going to realize that driving tired is almost as bad as driving drink. I can almost guarantee that we'll find out the driver fell asleep. What were they doing driving back from Chicago overnight?

[Lyle]

AMEN!

jmark127 wrote:

jcf817, probably about the same time that the armchair commentators with 20/20 hindsight and no real knowledge of the facts surrounding accidents realize that they may just be accidents. As a chaperone on trips similar to this one, I have seen how the logistics work. Why don't we wait for the facts to come out before posting something irrelevant to the situation.

[jcf817]

Lyle wrote:

There were two buses with three drivers. One driver is in riding cush in "on duty not driving" status at any give time. This is a very common and legal practice to avoid fatigue and comply with Federal Hours of Service Regulations.
<quoted text>

I'm sorry...but how does that disprove anything?

[St Paul Jane]

Let's leave the investigation to the professionals and not speculate on what may have happened. As far as kids going on willy nilly trips, I disagree. The more culturally astute a student can, be makes her/him a better person. These young people have experienced an incident that will haunt them for years to come. The Pelican Rapids High School band program is excellent, and the teacher is even better. The family of the deceased is more positive than the above comments. The family has posted a very nice paragraph on the PRHS website. Many years ago I graduated from PRHS. I still have a family member attending the high school and a member of the family who sits on the school board. This has been a very somber day for everyone involved in the accident. Thank you to every single person who has helped with this tragedy in any way.

[Dave]

As Forrest Gump would say, "**it happens"

[snowman]

jcf817 wrote:

When are we going to realize that driving tired is almost as bad as driving drink. I can almost guarantee that we'll find out the driver fell asleep. What were they doing driving back from Chicago overnight?

They were probably on the road because the school could not afford to let them amd the bus driver stay the night and the parents had shelled out a lot of money for the trip already.

[i am sorry too]

but do not try to tell me for a nanosecond that "Lyle" isn't affilitated with the "Minnesota Transportation Community" he appears to speak on behalf of.

He is a paid opinion. I personally advise disregarding most, if not all of what he says/posts.

[dick]

Lyle wrote:

This tragedy is very unexpected. Richards has a "Satisfactory" Federal DOT SAFER Safety Rating and has had zero out of services on 81 inspections in the 24 months through April 3rd. The national out of service average is 23.14%. This would indicate Richards is a safe operator that maintains their equipment and complies with the law. Whatever the cause, the thoughts of th Minnesota Transportation Community are with the families of the victims, the other passengers, the driver, and Richards staff.

On overtime here working the spin to get the asses of those at fault out of the chair.
Take a page from Shapiro and atone.

[Snow Queen]

Bus manufacturers just have to start putting seat belts in their vehicles. I'm tired of reading about people being thrown around during a bus crash or a rollover. Clearly, a bus isn't a safe place to be during an accident. We have seatbelts in cars and planes ... we need them on buses, too.

[Lyle]

i am sorry too wrote:

but do not try to tell me for a nanosecond that "Lyle" isn't affilitated with the "Minnesota Transportation Community" he appears to speak on behalf of.
He is a paid opinion. I personally advise disregarding most, if not all of what he says/posts.

Actually, I have been involved in commercial vehicle enforcement and commercial vehicle safety for 41 years. I do not "speak" for law enforcement, or the bus, or truck industries, my comments are based upon experience and knowledge of regulations and these operations. If this offends you and you prefer ignorant opinions, Tough.

[Larry R]

dick wrote:

<quoted text>
On overtime here working the spin to get the asses of those at fault out of the chair.
Take a page from Shapiro and atone.

Sounds lie someone who wants facts before jumping to conclusions, which is more that we can say for "dick"/

[jmark127]

It may turn out that fatigue was a factor. It just as well may not. I know from my million plus miles as a profesional driver, that time of the day can be very dangerous. But all this speculation and knee jerk solution proposing serves nothing other than self aggrandizement. Lyle is the only one making real sense, other than those expressing sympathy for all involved.

[Pretzel]

Let's see an old bus driver, cheap maintenance and leaving early in the morning. A recipe for disaster.

Well at least someone is making money off one dead individual - Larson Funeral Home on 3rd Street.

[get a clue]

ok lyle, we now know your a d.o.t. guy. ya dont even wanna get me started on the waste of space you guys are. ok im gonna nayways, 1 example and i have many, but this one was just the other day, wet sticky snow, covers up a street signal in elk river, i'm listening to my police scanner they called the d.o.t. to come out and uncover the light cuz it was snow covered and people couldnt see it, dispatch came back on and said, the d.o.t. wont respond to anything like that. not 5 min. later, a call comes across the police scanner, same intersection a huge crash, guess what, they came out then. just a simple example of the d.o.t. i think the entire dept needs a revamping. its not on you personally lyle, but ya gotta admit, things could be so much better with MNDOT. your asking what does any of this have to do with this story? nothing just sick of the fat cats at mndot getting money for doing almost nothing until its to late. go ahead, disagree.

[jmark127]

hey get a clue, get a clue. MNDOT(Transportation) and commercial vehicle enforcement(Public Safety) are two completely different departments.