Fatal Virginia bus crash driver’s trial pushed back

For any large-scale commercial vehicle, the passengers on board–whether they think about it or not–put their trust in the person responsible for helming that craft. Airline pilots, ship captains and bus drivers are all expected to do their jobs with others’ lives on the line, even if they work long hours or are not necessarily paid very well. Unfortunately, failure at their job has the potential to lead to catastrophic injuries and deaths. People’s lives are irrevocably changed in the blink of an eye because of the negligence of one person.

Of course the recent sinking of a cruise ship in Italy is on people’s minds, but last year Virginia witnessed its own tragic event. A Sky Express bus overturned last May on Interstate 95, killing four women and sending dozens of others to the hospital. The driver told the Virginia State Police that he was tired and fell asleep at the wheel.

The driver is was to be put on trial this week in Virginia for four counts of involuntary manslaughter. However, the case was continued and a new trial date will be scheduled next month.

The bus driver had been cited for nine traffic violations, all of which took place in Northern Virginia in the previous eight years, including speeding, following too closely and failing to obey highway signs. The driver, whose native language is Mandarin Chinese, does not speak English very well by his own admission.

While the people who lost loved ones are undoubtedly reeling from their losses, an experienced personal injury attorney can help them work toward recovering compensation for what they have endured.

Source: Fredricksburg.com, “Trial for driver in fatal bus crash continued,” Portsia Smith, Jan. 25, 2012