On May 17, 2018, a school bus caused a deadly crash when it missed an exit and decided to make a sudden U-turn in a median. The school bus was filled with fifth-graders headed on a class field trip in New Jersey. The bus was carrying 38 students and seven adults from East Brook Middle School in Paramus. As the bus attempted to make the U-turn, it collided with a dump truck. As a result of the accident, one 10-year-old student and one teacher died. Forty-three others were injured, some critically.
Three school buses were taking students from the same school on the field trip. A video from a Department of Transportation camera shows that one of these busses missed the exit. The video also shows that the driver used a designated U-turn area for emergency vehicles ahead and cut across lanes of traffic to try and make that U-turn. A dump truck that was travelling in the same direction slammed into the school bus as the bus suddenly appeared in front of him.
There is no federal requirement for seat belts on full-sized school buses. However, six states, including New Jersey, do require seat belts on these types of vehicles.
If you or a loved one has been injured as a result of an auto accident, the experienced lawyers at the law firm of Abraham, Watkins, Nichols, Agosto, Aziz & Stogner can assist with your claim. Call us today at (713) 222-7211 or 713-222-7211 for your free consultation.