Saturday morning, a commercial bus traveling from Atlanta, GA to Dallas, TX overturned on I-20, according to Mississippi Highway Patrol. The crash caused the death of seven people and dozens more were injured.
The bus was traveling westward near Bovina in Warren County, Mississippi when it left the highway and flipped over. Autobuses Regiomontanos operated the bus, and there were no other vehicles involved in the crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board said on social media platform X that tire failure caused the crash.
According to the transit company, Autobuses Regiomontanos, they have 20 years of experience providing cross-border trips, and the website promotes the business as a “modern fleet of buses that receive daily maintenance”.
According to a news release, six of the bus passengers were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash, and another died later at a hospital.
A mother has identified her 8-year-old boy, Kain Gutierrez, and 16-year-old girl, Perla Gutierrez, as two of the deceased. The other five victims who died have been identified as:
- Miguel Arriaga, 61
- Victor A. Garcia, 32
- Moises A. Garcia, 31
- Elia Guzman, 63
- Angelica Palomino, 16
Thirty-seven other passengers were taken to hospitals in Vicksburg and Jackson to be treated for injuries they sustained in the collision.
Authorities will continue to investigate the accident.
Who Can Be Held Accountable For This Accident?
As stated above, the National Transportation Safety Board has said that the bus crashed due to tire failure.
With that information, there are a few parties who may be held accountable for the tire malfunction, and ultimately the crash. These parties may include:
- The Bus Company (Autobuses Regiomontanos): As the operator of the bus, the company is responsible for making sure that the vehicle is properly maintained, if they failed to perform adequate maintenance checks or ignored critical signs of tire wear and tear, they may be held liable for causing the accident.
- Tire Manufacturer: If the tire that failed was somehow defective or had a design flaw, the tire manufacturer could be held responsible for producing a faulty product that led to the crash.
- Maintenance Contractors: If the bus company outsourced maintenance work to a third-party contractor they could be held liable if they failed to properly inspect or maintain the tires.
- Bus Driver: If the driver was negligent in their duties like failing to notice a problem with the tires before the trip, the driver could also be held accountable, however, in many cases, liability may fall on the company that employs the driver.
- Government Agencies or Roadway Authorities: in some cases, the design or condition of the roadway could contribute to causing accidents. If road conditions were poor they could have exacerbated the tire failure or if signage or warnings were inadequate, a government entity could potentially share liability.
- Tire Distributors: If the tire was sold or installed by a third-party distributor who knew or should have known about potential defects, they might also bear some responsibility.
“This tragic accident has devastated the lives of many, including the families who lost loved ones or whose loved ones were injured,” says attorney Gerald Singleton, “The loss of life, especially that of a young child and a teenager, is heart-wrenching. As authorities continue their thorough investigation, it’s essential that we hold those responsible accountable, not only to seek justice but to help the grieving families find some measure of closure during this incredibly difficult time.”
If you were injured in a bus crash or lost a loved one in the crash, contact the personal injury lawyers at Singleton Schreiber to learn how they may help you. Call (619) 771-3473 or email info@singletonschreiber.com, they have attorneys licensed in Mississippi and Georgia, two of the states involved in this accident.
Singleton Schreiber has handled virtually identical cases and are experienced in these types of catastrophic accidents. They have numerous Spanish-speaking attorneys, paralegals, and case assistants available to ensure clear and thorough communication.
