Wisconsin Truck Accident Law : Trucking Injury Lawyer & Attorney for Lawsuits in Milwaukee, Madison, Kenosha, La Crosse WI

While in Los Angeles today on a different case, I learned of the tragic Phoenix bus crash that killed at least 6 people and injured more than than a dozen other people. It appears that the charter bus, which originated in Los Angeles, caused the multi-vehicle collision.

Early reports indicate that the bus driver lost control, rearending a car in front of it, and then rolling off the highway, about 30 miles south of Phoenix in the Town of Maricopa. This result in at least one semi-truck losing control and crashing as well as another car crash.

The tour bus is owned by Tierra Santa, a Los Angeles Company.

This blog will be updated once more information is available as to the root cause of the collision.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

Caledonia -- Shortly after 7 AM, January 5, 2010, a 12-year-old boy was dropped off at the 4600 block of Charles Street by his mother in order to get on the school bus. The boy crossed Charles Street and as his bus approached, he was hit by a box truck. The boy was thrown into a nearby snow bank.

The truck, driven by Jeffrey Winker, of Kenosha, was traveling north on Charles St. According to some upset citizens, this was an accident waiting to happen, due to the advent of "straight-line" busing. Children are no longer picked up within their major subdivisions. Instead, they must walk, or be driven by their parents, to one of the major bus pickups, which is often times a very busy street. These streets are even busier during early morning and late afternoon commute times, which often times coincide with us pick up or drop off.

When interviewed by the Journal Times in July of 2008, regarding the straight-line busing practice that was newly instituted, Pat Starken, Racine Unified's transportation specialist had the following to say:

"Getting the kids to school is the primary responsibility of my department and we need to get the kids to school on time," Starken said. "We also want to reduce that run time as best as we can, and if we're not stopping every block or every other block … it's going to reduce the time that those kids are on the bus."

Perhaps now Starken, Racine Unified School District, and Durham School Services, which provides the transportation for children, will address the dangerous situation that straight-line busing has created. Perhaps they will also realize that getting the kids to school safely should be his primary responsibility, even if it means more money and less efficiency.

This will be little consolation for the 12-year-old boy who will have a long road to recovery from his fractured thigh bone and collapsed lung suffered in this morning's accident.

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks

A Random Lake school bus carrying 26 students was involved in a crash Tuesday, October 27, 2009, with a pick-up truck. According to investigators, the school bus driver, 51-year-old Judy Degnitz of Fredonia, proceeded from a stop sign onto Abbott Drive from Lynn Road, into the path of an eastbound Ford F-250 hauling a utility trailer. The pick-up truck slammed into the side of the school bus.

The school bus, owned by Degnitz Bus Service of Fredonia, was transporting 26 Random Lake students. The driver of the bus was cited for failing to yield the right of way to the pick-up truck. The bus driver, Degnitz, claimed she was unable to see the pick-up truck coming due to the extreme fog. She was uninjured.

The driver of the pick-up truck, Nichollas Mueller, 30, of Adell, and his two passengers, 9-year-old Tyler Kies and 7-year-old Owen Kies, were all taken to St. Mary's Hospital in Ozaukee County.  18 of the students on the school bus were treated by the school nurse for minor injuries and 2 were taken to St. Nicholas Hospital in Sheboygan.

Professional bus drivers are required to exercise "extreme caution" in poor weather conditions. The investigation continues.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Learn More About Wisconsin Bus Accident Law

Contact a Wisconsin Bus Accident Attorney

• Email This
• Print
• Comments
• Trackbacks