One person was injured and two died in an Eitas shuttle bus accident that took place on December 19th, 2019 in south Kansas City. A minivan collided with the shuttle bus head-on as per police. The bus was picking up disabled people and there were two passengers on board with the driver.
The crash took place in a curve on Raytown Road north of Interstate 470 around 7:35 am as per a report by the Kansas City Police Department.
Minivan Crossed Over
The blue Chrysler Pacifica was going north on Raytown Road when it jumped over the center lines into the southbound lane. The white shuttle bus operated by Eitas was a Ford E450 model and was headed south.
Eyewitnesses report that the bus driver honked twice and tried her best to avoid the crash. But, the two vehicles hit each other head-on. The 39-year-old Chrysler driver, Misty White, was rushed to the hospital where she was called dead on arrival.
The bus driver was critically injured in the crash and the disabled female passenger sitting just behind the driver was killed. The passenger was identified as 72-year-old Jacquelin C. Peters. Jacobs.
There was another passenger in a wheelchair that miraculously escaped injuries. She was at the rear of the bus when the collision took place.
Eitas Staff Members Shocked
According to Jake Jacobs, executive director of Eitas, all audio and video recordings from the shuttle has been turned over to the police for investigation. The staff members were said to be in a state of shock.
This is the first time a fatality has been linked with Eitas in their 25 years of providing transportation in Jackson County to people with development disabilities.
Common Causes of Bus Accidents in Missouri
There are numerous factors that can result in a bus collision or crash. These range from weather conditions and dangerous roadways to improper maintenance and driver negligence. Long distance charter buses are at a higher risk of accidents because of improper employee screening, poorly maintained equipment, and driver fatigue.
When in an accident, make sure to hire a cross country bus accident attorney to ensure that all causes of the collision are investigated. This can be critical to filing a successful lawsuit. Litigations involving accidents can be complicated, and bus accidents tend to be the most complex of all.
There are usually several defendants and victims. Things don’t get easier when bus companies involve their auto insurance providers and lawyers. Experienced cross country bus accident lawyers are required to understand federal safety standards, licensing, and common carrier law.