Two people were killed and at least another 40 were injured when a tour bus headed to the Choctaw Casino rolled over on the President George Bush Turnpike, State Highway 161, in Irving. At least three to four of the bus passengers are in critical condition following the single vehicle commercial bus crash.
The bus was operated by Cardinal Coach Line out of Mansfield. “Casino Sue,” as family members warmly referred to Sue Taylor of Hurst, was one of the passengers killed in the bus crash. She had organized the trip, along with several other similar casino trips over the past 10 years.
Paula Hahn of Fort Worth was also killed in the tragic bus crash.
The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is onsite, investigating what went wrong in the commercial bus accident. Initial reports note that the driver had brushed a barrier on the right hand side of the turnpike and then quickly veered left, possibly overcorrecting, and hit the concrete barrier in the median.
The bus then rode partially up the median, eventually causing it to roll onto its right side. Passengers ranging from age 60 to age 80 were tossed about inside the cabin of the bus during the crash.
The driver of the bus was taken to Parkland Hospital and is listed in serious condition after the crash.
According to the Cardinal Coach Line website, the company has no history of commercial vehicle accidents. Its drivers undergo an extensive background check prior to being hired as a bus driver and undergo continuing training and education while with the company.
Source: CNN, “2 dead, dozens sent to hospitals after Dallas-area bus crash,” April 11, 2013