Texas State University suffered a tragedy on October 29, 2016. One of their promising young students was found dead under a bus. Two fraternities were throwing a music and tube trip at Cool River Ranch.
The shock of the death is only increasing as more facts are slowly becoming known. The only reason the sorority member’s body was found was because the bus was encountering problems with its air braking system. It was only when a mechanic arrived the next day that the girl’s body was discovered. Investigators are of the idea that the mechanical issues with the brakes were caused by the collision as the sorority member’s body was jammed under the rear axle of the bus. If the bus was not displaying brake problems who knows when her body might have been found.
The investigation by the Guadalupe County Sheriffs or Sheriff’s department have determined that after the young woman was run over she was trapped under the bus and dragged approximately 500 feet. Currently the sheriff has not commented on to the exact time or manner of death, outside of the short comment that the death appeared to be “consistent with being struck and dragged by bus,” and it “appears to be an accident,” the sheriff said. However, this leaves open to speculation as to whether or not she died upon impact, or died while she was being dragged, or she died while trapped under the rear axle of the bus in the 12 hours before her body was discovered by the mechanic.
One of the fraternities responsible for the party has voluntarily suspended operations since the discovery of the body. However, with the sheriff’s ruling this tragedy an accidental death, there are no plans for charges to be filed. “Nothing indicated the bus had struck anyone,” Zwicke said. “It was late and dark. The driver was loading people to take them back to the colleges. He didn’t see anything.” Zwicke has said the shuttle bus that killed Taylor displayed both mechanical problems and a bad braking system. Even though no criminal charges will be filed against the bus driver, bus company, or fraternities, that does not prevent the deceased daughter’s parents from filing a civil suit for wrongful death.
With the loss of a future respiratory therapist who was 20 years old, the question must be asked; could this tragedy have been prevented? If you or someone you know has been injured in a bus accident, contact an attorney at Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner by calling (713) 222-7211 or toll free at 713-222-7211.
http://www.complex.com/life/2016/11/bus-dragged-college-student-to-death