A charter bus crashed into a disabled 18-wheeler along an ice and fog-bound Virginia highway early Sunday morning, sending more than 20 people to the hospital.
Casino-Bound Charter Bus Unable to Avoid 18-Wheeler Wreck on I-64
According to the Virginia State Police, the semi-truck was heading east along I-64 on Afton Mountain, near the Nelson-Augusta county lines, when the driver lost control of the vehicle shortly after 4:30 a.m.
The rig overturned, split open, and spilled its load of mail across the roadway.
The Silver Lining Charters & Tours bus was returning 20 passengers to Charlottesville from the Hollywood Casino at Charles Town Races in West Virginia, but was unable to avoid the wreck and slammed into the 18-wheeler.
The bus then veered off the interstate and came to rest against a guardrail. Several minor accidents followed the initial crash.
Icy Conditions Hindered Emergency Response
“They had an overturned tractor-trailer with a driver that was entrapped,” David Nichols, with Augusta County Fire-Rescue, told NBC29. “They had a tour bus with multiple patients on the bus and at least one person, the driver, was entrapped in that.”
To make matters even worse, the icy roadway hindered emergency response efforts.
“It was like watching a curling match because the responders had to shuffle along because of the road condition,” Nichols continued.
27 People Treated at Area Hospitals, 4 Remain in Fair Condition
Eventually, paramedics transferred 27 people to area hospitals, including all 20 charter bus passengers.
While most of the injuries were minor, four patients were admitted to the University of Virginia Medical Center in Charlottesville. Hospital officials have not disclosed the nature of their injuries, but did confirm all four were in fair condition.
The Virginia charter bus crash remains under investigation; however, authorities do believe the foggy and icy conditions were the main contributors to the accident. The National Weather Service Baltimore/Washington had issued a winter weather advisory until 11 a.m. on Sunday for parts of the Shenandoah Valley, and specifically urged drivers to proceed with caution along I-64.
Texas Greyhound Bus Crash Left 6 Injured
Sunday’s charter bus crash in Virginia comes just days after an 18-wheeler collided with a disabled Greyhound Bus along I-45 near The Woodlands in Texas.
The Dallas-bound Greyhound stalled sometime around 2:30 a.m. on Thursday, November 14th, and was still parked on the outside shoulder when the vehicle was rammed by the semi-truck from behind.
While most of the 26 Greyhound passengers were able to board the replacement bus and continue on to Houston, six people, including the bus driver, received treatment at local hospitals for non-life-threatening injuries.
So far, it’s not clear what caused last Thursday’s Greyhound bus crash in Texas. Authorities have confirmed, however, that the stalled vehicle’s emergency lights were on and its triangles were out when the collision occurred.
Undefeated Bus Accident Lawyers with Billions Won. Call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here.
Our Undefeated Bus Accident Lawyers are investigating the Virginia charter bus crash, as well as the Greyhound accident in Texas, and will post updates when new information becomes available.
In addition to being Undefeated, our Experienced Personal Injury Lawyers have won billions for thousands of accident victims across the United States, including Record-Breaking Verdicts and Settlements against Greyhound and other major transportation companies.
If you have questions about your legal rights and options following a commercial bus crash, please call 1-888-603-3636 or Click Here to send us a confidential email through our “Contact Form.”
All consultations are free, and since we only represent our clients on a contingency-fee basis, you won’t pay anything unless we win your case.