Bus Driver Causes Fatal Crash in California; Had Criminal Record
A bus crash on Sunday, which killed 8 and injured 30 people, was allegedly caused by a driver who was under the influence. The bus was on its way to a Northern California casino and carried about 43 passengers.
Police arrested Quintin Watts on Monday as he lay critically injured in his hospital bed. This incident is under investigation and police officers are waiting for results of Watts' blood tests.
According to a witness, the bus drifted across a two-lane road and the driver over-corrected causing him to lose control. The bus rolled over and into a ditch. Some passengers were thrown out while others were crushed by the rolling bus.
The story is even more horrific.
The bus' license plates were not valid. The driver has a history of substance abuse as well as a long history of motor vehicle offenses. In fact, he just recently got his license reinstated in January of this year after having it suspended for two years. At this point, the police do not even know who or what company owns the bus involved. While it says "Greyhound" on the side, Greyhound explained that they sold the bus several years ago.
Authorities are investigating Cobbs Bus Services and if they owned the bus. One of the passengers killed, Daniel Cobb, is also being investigated as having possibly owned Cobbs Bus Services. The last operator of the bus is listed as Prayer Apostolic Faith Christian Center of Modesto, which has the same address as the listing for Cobbs Bus Services.
Buses taking tourists to local casinos in California are popular. Unfortunately, it seems whether or not this industry is taking the proper steps to background check employees is seriously in question.
Is this accident and all of the fatalities going to have the impact to make background checks happen?
Police arrested Quintin Watts on Monday as he lay critically injured in his hospital bed. This incident is under investigation and police officers are waiting for results of Watts' blood tests.
According to a witness, the bus drifted across a two-lane road and the driver over-corrected causing him to lose control. The bus rolled over and into a ditch. Some passengers were thrown out while others were crushed by the rolling bus.
The story is even more horrific.
The bus' license plates were not valid. The driver has a history of substance abuse as well as a long history of motor vehicle offenses. In fact, he just recently got his license reinstated in January of this year after having it suspended for two years. At this point, the police do not even know who or what company owns the bus involved. While it says "Greyhound" on the side, Greyhound explained that they sold the bus several years ago.
Authorities are investigating Cobbs Bus Services and if they owned the bus. One of the passengers killed, Daniel Cobb, is also being investigated as having possibly owned Cobbs Bus Services. The last operator of the bus is listed as Prayer Apostolic Faith Christian Center of Modesto, which has the same address as the listing for Cobbs Bus Services.
Buses taking tourists to local casinos in California are popular. Unfortunately, it seems whether or not this industry is taking the proper steps to background check employees is seriously in question.
Is this accident and all of the fatalities going to have the impact to make background checks happen?
Labels: background checks, bus crash, bus drivers, employee background checks
posted by JenWiehl at 5:36 PM
6 Comments:
This is horrific!
I'm curious to know how this trip was advertised and if the people buying tickets would have had any way to check out the validity of the company/driver, if they'd so desired.
Of course, who knows if anything would have come back as hinky anyway...
Unbelievable...
People like this take the joy out of things. Those passengers would never have thought to background check a commercial driver. A night out to enjoy some time at a casino turned into a tragedy.
This is especially sad because of how easy it would have been to prevent the deaths of these innocent people. The only possible silver lining in this is if it's used as a lesson by other companies.
Wow. A mystery and a tragedy. I hope the police get to the bottom of this!
It's sad that 8 people died. I feel for the families that lost a loved one that day. I hope companies everywhere see this tragedy as a wake up call. This can happen to anyone, anywhere, anytime.
My good friend'son was killed by an unlicensed driver.
Background checks should be required for anyone that has another person's well being in their control.
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