An August 31st bus crash that injured several members of the Sigma Chi fraternity and their guests took place on a charter bus owned by a company that had lost its license years ago and has been barred from doing business in the state of Texas since 2009.
The crash involved Texas Christian University students who were associated with a fraternity, Sigma Chi. The group was headed to a football game between LSU and TCU. It is common practice for student groups to charter buses to drive them to off campus events in order to minimize costs and as a precaution against students drinking and driving.
The bus, which was operated by Dignity Outreach Center of south Dallas, was carrying 46 passengers at the time of the incident. The vehicle driver reported that the bus brakes failed and that he had purposely steered the vehicle onto the curb, where it hit a utility pole and several windows were shattered. The driver indicated that it was hit intention to avoid an accident, but passengers reported that he was not paying attention to the road and was distracted. Nine passengers were sent to local hospitals for minor injuries.
Further investigations into the circumstances of the accident have revealed a number of troubling facts involving the bus company. In addition to the company that owns the bus having lost its business license four years ago, federal inspectors had taken the bus itself out of service just two months before the crash as a result of faulty brake lights. The inspectors also indicated that at the time that the buswas removed from service, its driver was not properly licensed and did not have the medical certificate needed to allow him to be on the road.
The Commercial Vehicle Safety Alliance (CVSA) is the body responsible for enforcing the rules imposed by the federal government, and according to their requirements following a failed inspection a bus company has just over two weeks to amend the defect. On July 7th the bus was provided with a renewed vehicle identification number. It is not clear whether the company submitted additional information that allowed the vehicle back into operation, but questions remain about the company’s right to operate within the state, as well as its liability.