Here’s another tragic note to add to the tour bus crash in Virginia this week that killed four people.
The New York Times reported that the bus operator, Sky Express, had been allowed to keep operating while it appealed safety violations. The bottom line is that if the company hadn’t received that extension, its license would have been suspended last Saturday, three days before the fatal accident, according to The Times.
As a result of this case, U.S. Department of Transportation Ray LaHood announced Wednesday that carriers would no longer be given extra time for appeals.
“Following Tuesday’s horrific bus crash in Virginia, I have directed the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration to end its practice of extending the appeals period for unsafe motorcoach companies,” LaHood said in a statement. “There is no excuse for delay when a bus operator should be put out of service for safety’s sake.”
Back in April the motor carrier administration found that Sky Express had a number of alleged violations, such as those realting to driver training, The Times reported.
“The carrier was given an unsatisfactory rating and banned from making interstate trips,” The Times said. “Sky Express appealed the ruling and was eventually given an extension of 10 days.”
Authorities suspect that the driver of the bus that crashed in Virginia, Kin Yiu Cheung, of Queens, fell asleep while driving, which caused the accident. He has been chrged with reckless driving.
The Times reported that Sky Express has been cited for driver fatigue 46 times in the past two years.
I guess this fatal crash will wind up making it 47.
http://www.nytimes.com/2011/06/02/us/02bus.html?_r=1&scp=1&sq=bus%20crash&st=cse