In the wake of two deadly tour bus accidents, state inspectors have taken 10 drivers out of service.
Inspectors stopped 36 buses from the Canadian border to Long Island today, issued eight tickets and called in backup drivers in 10 instances after determining the drivers could no longer operate the vehicles.
Meanwhile, the Department of Motor Vehicles suspended the license of Ophadell Williams, the driver involved in Saturday’s tour bus accident on Interstate 95 in the Bronx that killed 15 people.
The governor’s office also released Williams’ motor vehicle records.
Investigators are looking into applications in which Williams is said to have made false statements, to determine whether it was done to conceal the fact he had allegedly been using multiple names and had a previous suspended license.
Meantime, some of the first responders to the scene were being questioned Thursday by investigators from the state police and the National Transportation Safety Board.
The bus was returning to Chinatown from an overnight trip to the Mohegan Sun casino in Connecticut.
(Source: NY1)
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3 Responses
As an owner of a trucking company that runs trucks in and out of the the tri state area to various parts of the country on a weekly basis, as well as being an over the road truck driver (long distance) myself, this does not shock me in the least bit. I drive over 100k miles a year around the country and by far most accidents I see involve coach buses. They are the most under regulated industry by the Dept of Transportation. I, as well as my drivers get pulled in for inspection almost weekly (thank g-d always pass so far). The DOT is too busy harassing us tractor trailer drivers to worry about the coach bus driver. They are too afraid of the American People and would not want to delay the passengers for 3-6 hours (sometimes more) with an inspection. It’s a complete double standard and it’s sad that something like this had to happen for DOT to wake up. Now, for the next 6 months or so, DOT will crack down on them, and then all will be forgotten. For all the lawmakers wanting to pass new laws, don’t waste your time. The laws are there, ENFORCE THEM!!
WASSSUP – In what condition are your trucks? How dilapidated do they look? I spent years driving OTR, and I was pulled over for inspection, or pulled out of line at a scale for a full boat inspection, maybe three times a year. And if “most” of the accidents you see are coach buses, then we don’t drive on the same planet – most are 4-wheelers.
Incidentally, in NYC the State DOT is virtually absent from truck inspections…the trucks running locally, either the port or Brooklyn Navy Yard, are the most run down collection of old tractors you’ll see anywhere on the road.
YonasonW: My trucks are all 2009 or newer. They are leased from Penske so they are well maintained. I don’t know what states you went through or how long ago you were on the road. But i’m still on the road and DOT has gotten very strict with the big rigs. I am usually within a few hundred lbs of the weight limit so I often get stopped for a secondary inspection. Not crazy level 1, just double checking my weight. My route is mostly I-95 and when I said Most accidents is see, i meant most with serious bodily injury or fatalities. Just a little while ago, I saw a greyhound bus ram into the back of a logger truck. the logs went through the front of the bus and pinned the driver. took them 3 hours to get him out.
About the DOT in NYC, they are literally absent from ALL of NYC and the surrounding areas. NYC patrols the highways, and are responsible for commercial vehicle enforcement. However, the NYPD only has 2 maybe 3 DOT certified officers, so go figure. And if you think NYC has the most rundown trucks, you should see the trucks running from the port of miami to various points around miami. DOT is all over and they still get away with it…