Last week, eight people were injured in a crash involving a tour bus and a Great Smoky Mountains Railroad train. According to WLOS ABC News Channel 13, the incident happened at the Nantahala Outdoor Center in Swain County. Initial reports indicate that the train was travelling at a relatively low speed when a tour bus carrying ninth graders from Georgia Military Prep School crossed its path. At least six students and two staff members were injured in the wreck. The driver of the tour bus, 59-year-old Charlie Poole of Milledgeville, Georgia, was charged with failing to yield the right of way at a railroad crossing.
Bus and Train Crash at Nantahala Outdoor Center
Some people were treated on the scene, and others were transported to Harris Regional in Sylva and Mission Hospital. No injuries were reported by train passengers, but they had to be transported back to Bryson City after the collision. At this time, very few details have been released about how this bus crash happened, and the incident remains under investigation with both state and federal investigative agencies. Preliminary investigative measures report that the bus should have stopped at the railroad crossing.
Railroad Crossing Safety Statistics
In 2016, there were 2,025 collisions at railroad crossings across the U.S.
There were 265 deaths associated with those collisions.
A total of 798 injuries were reported with railroad crossing collisions in 2016.
A motorist is almost 20 times more likely to die in a crash involving a train than in a crash involving another motor vehicle.
Asheville Tour Bus Crashes
Crashes involving tour buses, trains or any other large vehicles can be particularly devastating for injured occupants. After any accident involving a professional driver or a driver in a rented or borrowed vehicle, it’s essential to determine exactly what happened to cause the accident. Your attorney can stay on top of any investigative details and be your advocate as you focus on recovering from your injury.
If you have been injured in a crash involving a tour bus or if you have lost a loved one in a bus accident in Asheville or in any of the surrounding Western North Carolina communities, contact the skilled and proven Personal Injury team at Davis Law Group, P.A. at 828-279-7799 for a free case consultation.