According to a witness report, Houston METRO bus driver James Brooks, 63, gave his life on Tuesday evening to avoid hitting a car that had gotten in front of him to make a right turn. James Brooks was the only person on the Out-of-Service bus at the time. He was a veteran driver with almost 30 years of service to his credit. (Source: Mike Glenn, Houston Chronicle, 12/18/12)
The crash occurred on the I-45 south feeder road in southeast Houston near Howard Drive and Broadway. When James Brooks swerved to avoid hitting the errant car, he lost control of his METRO bus and struck the concrete pole of an exit sign. People nearby who heard the crash and came to offer aid indicated that Mr. Brooks dies at the scene of the tragic bus crash. The fatal accident led to the closing of the feeder road for crash investigation and clearing.
The Houston accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC offer their deepest sympathies to the family, friends, and colleagues of Mr. Brooks.
Contact us if you witnessed the Crash and have Information about the Car that led to the Fatal Accident
The goals of the Houston accident attorneys at Denena Points, PC are to help victims’ families find justice and to help local authorities make our Houston roadways a safer place to drive. If you have information about the METRO bus crash that can help in these efforts, kindly contact our Houston accident attorneys at 281-369-4363 or through our online contact form today.
Numerous Regulations exist to protect Bus Passengers, but what about Bus Drivers?
The U.S. FMCSA (Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration), and the State of Texas have special regulations governing passenger bus safety. The FMCSA also provides extensive resources on its website to help bus drivers and “common carriers” ensure their passengers’ safety. Special drivers’ licensing requirements, pre-trip safety check information, details on bus brake systems and safety technology, rules limiting driving hours, and educational safety brochures all help to facilitate passenger safety.
But as this fatal crash shows, bus drivers themselves are at risk from the negligent or reckless behavior of other drivers and sometimes their passengers. Yet few carriers or regulatory agencies seem to offer special precautions to help ensure the safety of bus drivers. The drivers are up front and most at risk in the event of a frontal crash like the one on the I-45 feeder road.
When you’re on the road, our Houston accident attorneys urge you to drive courteously and consider the safety of other drivers, passengers, cyclists, and pedestrians around you. Taking safety precautions to avoid sudden crashes always helps ensure your own safety too.
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