US bus crash that killed four Chinese tourists shows safety shortcomings, investigators say
- More than a dozen people were thrown out of the vehicle in the 2019 incident, while others were hurt when the roof caved in
- Probe finds no problems with intoxication, distraction, excessive speed, lack of sleep or driver experience, instead highlighting issues with vehicle standards
More than a dozen people were thrown out of a tour bus that crashed and rolled on a remote Utah highway in 2019, killing four Chinese tourists and highlighting a lack of safety standards for bus roofs and windows, US investigators said on Thursday.
The bus crashed after the driver drifted off the road and “overcorrected” as he steered back into the lane near Bryce Canyon National Park, the National Transportation Safety Board found in its final report on the crash.
All 30 people on board were hurt in some way, a grim toll made worse by the roof caving in during the crash and the inconsistent seat belt use by the passengers, the report found.
Ten people on the bus were not wearing seat belts, and some of the belted passengers wore the restraints loosely, making them less effective.
Investigators found no problems with intoxication, distraction, excessive speed, lack of sleep or the driver’s experience. A previous report found the bus had problems starting earlier in the day, but further examination found no mechanical issues or other malfunctions.