In response to a fatal bus crash in California last week, the FMCSA took swift and decisive action, shutting down the bus company responsible for the accident.
“After the tragic crash earlier this week, FMCSA investigators quickly inspected this carrier’s other two buses which had been operated on U.S. roads, and immediately shut them down,” said FMCSA Administrator Anne S. Ferro. “Today, we’ve officially blocked the company from conducting future operations in the United States.”
At approximately 6:30 p.m., Sunday, February 3, 2013 a tour bus carrying 38 passengers struck a car, flipped, then struck a pickup truck pulling a trailer.
The incident occurred on the narrow mountain road, Route 38, near Forest Falls. The tour bus was heading back to Tijuana, Mexico, from Big Bear.
Several passengers were thrown from the bus. Seven passengers died and 41 others were injured in the crash.
The bus driver survived the crash. He told investigators that the bus suffered brake problems, causing him to rear end the car.
The bus is owned by Scapadas Magicas of National City, California.
“A post-crash investigation by FMCSA inspectors of Scapadas Magicas’ two other motorcoaches that had been operating in the U.S. found serious mechanical safety violations, and those buses were immediately placed out-of-service,” FMCSA said in a press release.
Investigators also found that Scapadas Magicas also failed to ensure its vehicles were properly inspected, repaired and maintained, and that its drivers were properly qualified, trained and licensed.
“Safety is our number one priority, and we will not tolerate unsafe bus companies on our nation’s roads,” said U.S. Transportation Secretary Ray LaHood. “We will not allow safety to be compromised.”
