Media outlets have reported that a head-on collision involving a charter bus and an SUV left three people injured on the evening of April 28. Initial accounts do not indicate if the injured road users were traveling on the bus or in the SUV. The accident took place in the southbound lanes of the New York State Thruway in Orange County at approximately 10:30 p.m.
State troopers from the Troop T Barracks, who are tasked with patrolling the Thruway, say that the northbound charter bus crossed the center median and strayed into the path of oncoming traffic in the immediate vicinity of the Plattekill Service Plaza. Troopers were not immediately able to determine whether it was driver error or some sort of mechanical problem that had caused the bus to cross into the southbound lanes.
Reports indicate that three people suffered minor injuries in the bus accident. The bus, which remained upright following the crash, was moved to the service plaza for inspection by accident investigators. Police say that their inquiry into the incident is continuing.
Bus passengers often suffer serious injuries in accidents because they have no airbags or seat belts to protect them. Accident victims may pursue civil remedies when their injuries were caused by the negligent actions of others, and experienced personal injury attorneys could initiate litigation on their behalf against either bus drivers or their employers. Drivers may face civil sanctions when accidents were caused by impairment, recklessness or fatigue, and bus companies could be sued if poor maintenance or substandard repairs played a role. When preparing for this type of lawsuit, attorneys may consult police reports, accident investigations, and records of hours of service and safety regulations.
Source: The Times Herald-Record, "Police: 3 hurt in bus-SUV crash near Thruway travel plaza", Richard Bayne, April 28, 2018