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Gene Blevins / Reuters
A San Bernardino firefighter looks at the scene where a least eight people were killed and dozens were injured when a tour bus crashed Feb. 4.
Published 10:30 p.m. ET: U.S. regulators ordered the immediate shutdown of a tour bus operator involved in a deadly tour bus crash on a mountain road in San Bernardino County last weekend.
The Sunday evening crash killed at least eight people, including seven tour bus passengers and a pickup driver who was struck by the bus as it careened out of control on Highway 38 near Yucaipa. Dozens of people were injured in the crash, some of them critically.
The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration said in a statement Friday that the buses operated by Scapadas Magicas LLC pose an imminent hazard to public safety.
Read the order and more at NBCLosAngeles.com
A bus operated by the company was transporting passengers to Tijuana, Mexico, on Sunday when it smashed into a sedan, flipped, slammed into a pickup and crashed on a road in the San Bernardino Mountains.
A post-crash investigation of the company's two other buses that had been operating in the U.S. found serious mechanical safety violations, regulators said. The buses were immediately placed out of service.
Inspectors said the company also failed to have its vehicles regularly inspected.
Related:
Tour bus crash survivor: "Worst minutes of my life"
Survivors say bus weaved in and out of traffic before deadly crash
Leave a Comment:
We must ban tour buses......
ban buses...well i guess....these boots are made for walking...that's just what they'll do...one of these days...
is there a speck of fly crap in the forest...msnbc has ever over looked...nupe...
yes. ban buses. if it only saves one life, we should ban buses. how many innocent lives must die before we ban buses?
Corporations can't be held liable, wonder if anyone goes to jail, just like in the BP mishap.
I've been a tour bus Mechanic. Tour Buses are supposed to be made of Stainless Steel Panels and for good reasons like everyones life inside it.
This Bus doesn't look like it has any of that metal on it.
Might have something to do with it.
Trust2112 - It smells like somethings fishy 'cause "Corporations are people too my friend."
Well, an outright ban is a little harsh. We'll start out with background checks, and definitely restrict any "high capacity" busses (more than 10 passengers). No reason why the average citizen needs this sort of thing. A high capacity assault bus should be limited to military use only.
i think the feds need to drop the bus thing and take over the donter manhunt / lynching
This is a serious matter and this bus company deserves the penalty of being shut down. Look at the bus and tell me that they still should be open for business and they were running two other substandard buses.
Comparing this to guns is idiotic. We are given the right to form a well regulated militia and our right to bear arms is not to be infringed. Since we have a military, assault weapons should be well regulated by the DOD. We, the people, still have the right to bear arms and a hand gun and/or rifler with 10 rounds at a time should be more than enough to defend our family and our home.
Every topic hasguns brought into it. Does not help their cause but hey continue.
while there is no reason to bring guns into this discussion, I feel the need to point something out.
huskergal, The 2nd amendment is not about forming a militia, it is about the peoples right to keep and bear arms. The point of the 2nd amendment is for the people to have arms in order to regulate the militia, not to regulate the arms. It isn't even about the right to defend your home, it is about keeping our government from becoming totalitarian and/or dictatorial.
not too big to fail...
oh sorry, Im keeping track of campaign contributions
Don't expect Newsvine to listen or pay attention. It decided to "upgrade" and make it a more "enjoyable experience" or whatever nonsense it says. The people in charge and control of it don't like being told they made a mistake. They don't want to hear anyone's critiques. They're mad now that people have stated that what they did is insipid. No one likes being called stupid, and now they'll dig in for being called just that.
What I said is accurate.
We have the right to form a militia if we are threatened by another state, our government, or another country. We are given the right to bear arms and they are to be well regulated.
If you know your history, you should know that it was normal for people to be armed, for protection and for food. There was no reason to guarantee this as a right. However, as for joining together to protect the state or the country from attack it is necessary to regulate a militia and to give the citizens the right to bear arms and that this right never be infringed upon. All the armament necessary to protect home and property is a revolver and/or rifle and single shot ammunition
As the amendment is written in Old English, it is hard for users of new English to understand The founding fathers meaning of this amendment still stand. "we, the people, have the right to form a well regulated militia in case of attack and the people have the right to bear arms and this right will not be infringed upon.
We the people, do not need assault weapons and high capacity magazines to defend our home or to hunt. These regulation are the duty of the armed forces. If needed the military will supply the assault weapons and large capacity ammunition belts.
I'm glad that they were shut down.It is sickening for companies that have no regard for their customers safety and well being.Eight lives lost all because this company didn't want to spend the money to maintain their vehicles.
With the number of tour buses hitting over passes recently, and this latest accident, it is clear, there needs to be better oversight in how these companies are handling their equipment. The fact this company had two other buses which had to be shut down for failure to do proper maintence and were too dangerous to be used should speak volumes about the dangers posed.How many other companies are doing this also?
I know we have all seen those signs on business vehicles which say, "How and I driving?" and then give a number. It would be great to see such a system for reporting dangerous drivers of commercial passenger companies to an agency which could investigate such businesses. Before accidents happen. If the owners are not being held to regulations, there is nothing to stop another crashes like this from happening, or the previous ones involving overhead crashes. The bottom line is passenger safety. Which is everyone's business.
this was brake failure. The other one that hit the overpass was a case of not knowing the BUS dimensions and the road CLEARANCES. This one, the bus company management needs to go to JAIL for manslaughter. Lack of inspections caused this - it was AVOIDABLE. WHY did they not inspect or maintain their equipment? PROFITS??
Because the bus company is based out of Mexico. They have absolutely no regard for human life but our government allows them to qpperate POS busses and trucks across the border without having to have an American inspection done. The inspections required by the drug dealing authorites in Mexico consists of the greasing of palms with either pesos or some good weed.Or both.
The teamsters have been warning the American public for years and yet all the people in Washington DC ignore us.
One of the main objections to the Clinton era North American Free Trade Agreement or NAFTA was that the lower standard of safety rules on commercial vehicles registered in Mexico would endanger lives here in the U.S. For the most part the Mexican transportation companies have done a good job of meeting our safety requirements but once in a while mistakes are made.
President George H. Bush's administration, along with the Conservative Canadian Prime Minister Brian Mulroney, spearheaded the negotiations of the NAFTA, which would eliminate the majority of tariffs on products traded among the United States, Canada, and Mexico, to encourage trade amongst the countries. The treaty also restricts patents, copyrights, and trademarks, and outlines the removal of investment restrictions among the three countries.
NAFTA was not a "Clinton era" idea. NAFTA was supported by both democrats and republicans and was one of the biggest mistakes made by our government at the time,along with the repeal of Glass Steagall Act. Mexico should of been told to create laws that make companies pay a wage close to the Canadian and American standard of living or they would not be included in NAFTA. By the early 2000's the trade deficit with Mexico was in the billions of dollars not to mention American jobs heading south of the boarder.
I am sure the owners of this bus company will start a new tour business within a couple of weeks. That's what they do in NY. There have been several tour bus accidents in NY and it was discovered that a few of the buses belonged to companies that were started after the owners' other bus tour businesses were shut down for lack of proper maintenance.
Yes. Federal authority has done a right, appropriate decision in a right, quice timing, for the bus incident was possibly a maintenance fault.
the bus wasn't operating illegally...they were just undocumented things...that needed fixed...i'm sure the tax payers will be reimbursted...for the medical and rescue cost...sure they will...write the check Barry...
Just more government interference. Regulations clearly interfering with the Rights of Job Creators to put food on their families. Now there are bus drivers, ticket people, and who knows how many others out of work because of The Government enforcing silly oppressive Regulations on poor business owners.
@general electric--I hope like h..l youare being sarcastic in your post.
The government wasn't at fault. The company chose to neglect doing maintenance. It's proof that people can't do the right thing without having someone tell them what to do. I'm glad they got shut down. They can keep their fleet of illegal busses full of illegals in Mexico. There's plenty of places to tour down there. The company sounds like a front anyway. I doubt they were 'touring".
MSNBC should be putting a graphic content warning on the picture of this article, there's an arm sticking out there.
I'm not offended by it but some folks might be.
As someone who has worked on countless crash sites, I can tell you,there are no bodies in the bus. Federal and state regulations dictate specific procedures all bodies must be covered, or any portion thereof from pubic view when fatalies have occured immediately. Then measurements are taken, investigations made, and afterwards the bodies removed. All information gathered for police reports, so charges, if needed, can be made. Never are bodies allowed left for the public to be seen uncovered, but removed. Before photos are taken and released to the public.
Look closely at the picture - you might find they're right.
Geeze, how tragic times have changed, and regulations aren't being followed.Both in safety of maintaining equipment, nor dignity in death.All because some people put money above safety and principals. I pray those who died are at peace. And their deaths may be the last from such causes. Helping to prompt changes, so others will be safer in the future. While those who caused such to happen, face the full consequences of the law.
Looks like an arm in a khaki long sleeved shirt to me...(magnify to 400% AND YOU CAN SEE THE HAND AND FINGERS)
You're right that is an arm.
that is a left arm right...or is it...a right arm left...
Ive seen my share of accidents. Thats an arm hanging there. No doubt about it.
well would anyone expect a bus from mexico too be safe?? duh. but hey the USA lets mexican semi trucks drive in the U.S. also but only in border states, but Obummer wants too let them driver further in the U.S. as now they have too unload at the border, so if Obummer gets his way we better get off the road if we see a semi truck from Mexico. but Obummer will just sign another executive order too let those mexican semi death trucks in the U.S. and also this way Obummer will cause U.S. truckers too lose more jobs if these mexican trucks don't have too unload at the border.
I won't blame the President (as you apparently do) but buses and other vehicles involved with public transportation need to be VERIFIED as "safe"
There was a truck from Texas here in Nebraska the other day. It had Texas plates, looked like a piece of crap and the driver didn't speak a lick of English. If their rigs aren't illegal, then the driver is.
yes i can see the arm hanging out also
Obama didn't initiate NAFTA, Daddy Bush did. Obama didn't sign NAFTA, Clinton did. Obama didn't initiate the DOT changes to allow unsafe Mexican rigs and illiterate Mexican drivers to operate thruout the USA, Daddy's Baby Bush did. ALWAYS THROWING BS hither & yon with complete disregard for the truth and absent any effort to move to the center and away from the Nazi Right.
The company I work for loads bulk trucks coming from and headed to Mexico.
The trucks look border line legal until the driver pops the hood to check his oil while being loaded.
The engine compartment looks like they've used bailing wire to attach anything loose.
More shlt from Mexico. Same old, same old.
This is an example of what happens when we let foreigners drive on our highways. They're not licensed by any state or the federal government, and therefore we don't know if they're qualified to drive, but our government doesn't care. It doesn't care who sneaks over the border, and it doesn't care who drives on our highways. It's called high treason, and Obama is the chief traitor.
I guess you would have to get off your smartphone long enough to see
how many bad drivers there are in America.
I haven't driven in Mexico since before 911. It probably takes twice as long to get back across the border.
I don't drive near as much as I used to.
In 5 years I have avoided at least 5 accidents just by paying attention.
The best way to know someone is on a cell phone is speed fluctuation.
99 times out of a 100 they will be on a cell phone.
They are bad drivers in Mexico. We aren't much better . We just think we are.
It's a shame all those people died .
I do like that California is losing tax money now that this business is no longer up and running, less tax money for the first bankrupt state in the nation!
I live for the day we as a nation pass the Tax Ban!
This is a clear-cut case of all that is wrong with the Charter Bus industry. Many of these companies require longer hours for the drivers than is legal or humanly possible. They authorize 14-16 hour shifts and require the driver to be back in the yard 8 hours after they complete a trip. Worse, many of these trips are with children.
The Mexican companies are far worse since their drivers have only minimal training and most cannot read English road signs. They carry only basic insurance as is required by NAFTA and if you want to sue them, you have to find your way through the corrupt Mexican Court system.
This is only one example of what CAN go wrong with the Charter Bus industry. If a driver were to get pulled over and checked, the driver could lose his/her license, face a huge fine and the Company hangs the driver out to dry.
This will only stop when the State Police or Highway Patrol starts pulling busses over and checks the log books of the drivers. When the companies face huge fines for mandating 14- 16 hour days, then and only then will the system change.
It is about damn time! These bus companies out of Mexico are a joke. They all seem to be mechanical nightmares. The companies and the drivers have no respect for American law. They weave in and out of traffic at high rates of speed as if it is some kind of game. You can bet if the right turn indicator is flashing on these buses that they will be turning left.
Cactuscat, unless the violations are obvious or there is an accident law enforcement will not be pulling them over, not here in AZ anyway. We might hurt their sensitivities if they ask for a driver's license.
Your freaky Nazi nanny state is getting out of hand. Ban spoons fat people suffer.
Hmmmmmmmmmmmmm............out of Mexico. Were they transporting illegals?
More proof CA sucks.
Third World country safety standards perhaps?
that rd is deceptive , you come flying down & out of a 4 lane canyon hwy mtn rd on to a two lane hwy thats narrow very narrow! Lots of people up that way going to Big Bear & over to Oak Glenn but its still considerer the back way. You get hauling ass coming down, your brake's are a very good thing as Martha Stewart would say. Sorry for the lost of life & can see it happing even if the bus was in top condition! But shutting down a company sounds like a witch hunt to subside the family's who lost loved ones & will do nothing.
There will be more of these types of "accidents" in the future if the Republicans continue to fight the unions and do away with safety regulation that they deem excessive.
@MOM-1160381,
There will be more types of your comments no matter how many computers we take away from liberals. Always blame someone else, typical liberal thinking.
There must have been assault rifles on the bus. Yeah that's it.
Cutting corners for profit
I am sorry for the loss of life, the owners are resposible and should do jail time. as a younger man I worked on many types of vehicles, from VW beattles to Winne motor homes. our shop had a contract with a tour bus outfit and we did most of their maintenance. if we found something major we had to call for approval before doing the work. sometimes it was approved sometimes not. make a note in the vehicle log and that was it. then it became a problem for the driver whether he wasnted to operate that bus or not, sometimes they were taken to an auction site and disposed of and a new bus added as a replacement. depended on who was running the company at the time. thankfully I've never had to ride a tour bus to go anywhere, or to see any thing, or visit a gaming institution.
keep wiping out illegal aliens! ! ! ! good job! ! ! !
What about inspecting these buses as they cross the border? What other vehicles are so bad they should not be on the US roads? Another case of closing the barn door after the deaths occur.
They maybe inspect 1 out of a thousand.