The National Transportation and Safety Board says that four of the eight tires on the tour bus involved in the fatal Palm Springs, California, crash had dangerously low tire tread.
Thirteen people including the bus driver were killed and dozens more injured when the tour bus slammed into a semi on I-10 early Sunday.
The NTSB says it is too early in the investigation to conclude that the worn tires contributed to the crash, but they said that the tires didn’t meet standards set by the Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance and the bus could have been placed out of service if inspected.
The NTSB says that the four worn tires were the two steer-axle tires as well as two drive axle tires.
Other early results from the California Highway Patrol and the NTSB’s investigation include:
- — The bus driver was not found to be in violation of hours of service regulations.
- — The bus had passed inspection in April 2016.
- — CHP says that there is no indication that the bus driver braked before the crash.
- — The bus driver had a valid CDL and a clean driving record for the past few years.
- — The tour bus brake system is under review.
NTSB says that the complete investigation into the crash could take a year or more.
Sources:
Fox News
NBC News
The OC Register