Velia Monarrez, of Las Vegas, Died In Barstow Rollover Bus Accident On Southbound Interstate 25 at Opah Ditch North of Rasor Road
BARSTOW, CALIFORNIA (December 15, 2022) – A woman identified as Velia Monarrez was killed and several people were injured in a Barstow charter bus accident along Interstate 15.
San Bernardino County officials are saying that the accident took place around 11:33 p.m. on Tuesday. A 2016 Volvo bus owned by Tufesa USA LLC was traveling southbound when it veered off the road and hit a raised dirt berm. This caused the bus to become airborne and roll over.
The front end of the bus hit the ground and a concrete retaining wall before coming to a stop. Velia Monarrez was critically injured in the crash and several people were ejected from the bus.
Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the accident in order to help all of the victims. A 10-year-old from Las Vegas was taken to the Barstow Community Hospital with moderate injuries.
Around 4 to 5 other people who were ejected from the bus were airlifted to different hospitals. Sadly, Velia Monarrez was pronounced dead at the scene.
Neither drugs nor alcohol are suspected as potential factors in the crash. A full investigation remains ongoing at this time.
Liability For Barstow Charter Bus Accidents
Buses are normally one of the safest forms of transportation that a person can take. But their high center of gravity makes them much more susceptible to rollover accidents. According to The Journalist’s Resource, “on average, about 63,000 buses [of all kinds] are involved in an accident each year; about 14,000 result in an injured person, and 325 result in a fatal injury. About 50 passengers (including the driver) are killed, on average, in a given year.” There are a number of steps that bus companies should take in order to prevent collisions.
- Bus companies should take measures to ensure that their drivers are properly trained.
- Bus companies must periodically inspect and maintain their fleet.
- Bus companies can equip their vehicles with safety features such as forward collision avoidance systems.
Charter buses are considered common carriers and their drivers are held to a high standard in terms of safety. Bus drivers will also need to undergo specialized training and acquire a commercial license. Consider, for example, Acosta v. Southern California Rapid Transit Dist. (1970). Common carriers bind themselves to carry their passengers safely and act with the utmost care and vigilance possible. They are responsible for even the slightest negligence and must do everything that human care and foresight reasonably can do to prevent harm to their passengers.
Bus drivers must operate their vehicle at a safe speed and obey all traffic regulations. Pursuant to California Vehicle Code 22107, no person shall turn a motor vehicle left or right upon a roadway unless such a movement can be made with reasonable safety. There is a rebuttable presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that abruptly leaves a roadway thereby causing an accident. If a bus driver was transporting passengers when a collision took place, the company that they were working for could be held at fault.
Liability for a bus accident could extend beyond a bus driver or their employer. When a bus veers off the freeway this may be due to a tire blowout. If that is the case, the company that created the tire that blew out could face some liability for the crash. Tire companies have a legal obligation to ensure that their tires are reasonably safe and free of defects. When the inner portion of a tire tread fails to properly chemically bond, this could lead to a catastrophic failure. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any bus accident.
- Surveillance footage from within the bus should be examined.
- All of the tires on the bus should be inspected.
- Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
- A thorough investigation should be conducted.
The family of any person that is killed in a bus accident may be able to seek some measures of justice through a wrongful death claim. Any person that is injured in a bus accident may be able to seek damages through a bodily injury claim. This can help with many of the expenses that stem from a serious injury. However, bus companies will often fight extremely hard to deny liability for any collision. A bus accident attorney can examine all of the unique facts of your case free of cost and get to the bottom of what caused an accident.
Liability For Barstow Charter Bus Accidents
We at TorkLaw extend our deepest condolences to the family of Velia Monarrez. It is our sincere hope that all of those that were injured will be able to make a full recovery. This was a preventable tragedy that should have never taken place. Any person that may have more information about the crash should reach out to police. There needs to be some accountability for the sake of all of the victims and their families.
Do you need more information about a Barstow charter bus accident? Our team of bus safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We care deeply that accident victims are aware of their rights and that those rights are being protected. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of support after an accident we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (888) 441-4991. Se habla español.
