Brake Failure Causes Dangerous School Bus Accident

A small school bus carrying 11 children, some of them special needs kids, went out of control, slamming into an SUV and crashing into an Irvington liquor store. As reported by CBS NY, the accident took place around 8 a.m. at the corner of Springfield and Sanford Avenues. Witnesses said that the bus was traveling along Sanford Avenue, when it ran a red light and slammed into a Rav 4 traveling east along Springfield. The SUV collided with a telephone pole, while bus continued forward and smashed into Home Liquors. Shortly after the accident, one witness heard the bus driver exclaiming that “…my brakes went off on me.” Surveillance video of the intersection confirms that the bus did in fact run the red light and cause the collision.

Fortunately, everyone involved in the accident including the driver, a chaperone on the bus, the SUV driver and all of the children walked away with only minor injuries. Despite this, Irvington’s mayor expressed concern, specifically for the children involved saying, “We take every injury seriously.” The damage to Home Liquors was significant and required additional support on the interior.

While investigators review the driver’s claims concerning the brakes, there is already evidence that could support her side of the story. The bus’ operating company Horizon Link School, LLC has a checkered history with the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission, with a 96% service failure rate in its entire fleet. That means only 4% of their vehicles are actually road worthy.

Bus companies have a responsibility to the customers they serve. Depending on the circumstances, failing to provide safe and secure transportation could be grounds for legal action. For more information about bus accidents and personal injury claims, contact the New Jersey personal injury attorneys at Lependorf & Silverstein, P.C. today.