Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board are currently at the site of a tragic bus accident in Mississippi that claimed the lives of seven individuals and caused injuries to many others. NTSB member Todd Inman mentioned during a press briefing on Saturday that they will be examining the maintenance of the tires, as initial indications point to tire failure as the cause of the crash.
The fatal incident occurred early Saturday morning when a 2018 Volvo bus, headed westbound on Interstate 20 near Bovina in Warren County, veered off the road and rolled over, as reported by the Mississippi Highway Patrol. There were no other vehicles involved in the accident. Sadly, six individuals were declared deceased at the crash site, with another person succumbing to injuries at a nearby hospital. Thirty-six individuals who were onboard the bus were transported to hospitals by ambulance, their current conditions remain unknown.
Among the deceased were a 6-year-old boy and his 16-year-old sister, as confirmed by Warren County Coroner Doug Huskey. The mother of the siblings helped in their identification, while authorities are still in the process of identifying the rest of the victims. The bus was en route from Atlanta to Dallas with a total of 41 passengers and two drivers, according to the highway patrol.
Aside from investigating the tire maintenance, the NTSB will also be reviewing the safety track record of the carrier involved and the safety measures in place for bus passengers. The bus was operated by Autobuses Regiomontanos, a company that specializes in cross-border trips between Mexico and the U.S. It was mentioned on their website that they maintain a modern bus fleet with regular maintenance and offer discounted fares for workers. At their Laredo, Texas office, a representative declined to provide further details about the tragic incident.
