Tractor Trailer Hits School Bus

"ttyymmnn" (ttyymmnn) 10/25/2018 at 16:10 • Filed to: None

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This crash happened yesterday morning in the town of Bastrop, Texas, east of Austin. There were 20 kids on the bus when the semi barreled through a red light as the bus was pulling out to make a turn with the green light . Ten students and the bus driver were taken to the hospital, but no serious injuries were reported.

Department of Public Safety spokesperson Robbie Barrera said, “The [truck] driver advised that he had a yellow light, he attempted to stop and his 18-wheeler would not stop. He took evasive action, hit the shoulder and could not stop, colliding with the school bus. ”

I’m calling bullshit on this one. The truck stopped just fine  after it hit the bus. I figure he thought he could make the light, but didn’t quite. Damned lucky that nobody was killed.

!!! UNKNOWN CONTENT TYPE !!!

(KXAN)

AMGtech - now with more recalls! > ttyymmnn 10/25/2018 at 16:16

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Holy shit. Lucky the initial contact wasn't 10-15 feet further back.

Just Jeepin' > ttyymmnn 10/25/2018 at 16:26

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Hopefully they can prove his story one way or another. Sure looks like a case of bad judgment. Lucky, lucky kids.

Urambo Tauro > ttyymmnn 10/25/2018 at 16:27

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Yeah, I don’t think the truck driver tried hard enough to stop for that signal. To say that the light “was yellow” for the truck driver is far too vague. Exactly when was it yellow? According to the video, it’s quite red by the time we see the truck enter the intersection. He must have been a lot further back when it turned yellow. Unless the signal is timed with a criminally-short yellow phase, the truck driver had PLENTY of time to brake. And that bus seems to have been way too effective in slowing the truck down for the truck to have been fully loaded. He could have stopped it if he was willing.

Takuro Spirit > ttyymmnn 10/25/2018 at 16:27

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So many questions.

What’s the limit on that road? 45+?

Why is the newslady so dumb that she can’t see the buses’ LEFT signal on (“DPS said the bus was attempting to turn right”) when it entered the intersection?

How long was the light green before the bus entered the intersection? Because it looks like the truck had a red for a LONG time.

You’d think a professional bus driver could have judged the closing speed and distance of the truck a little better...

facw > ttyymmnn 10/25/2018 at 16:30

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Anyone who doubts that school buses are sturdy can compare that bus to pretty much any other vehicle that gets hit by a semi.

Also, yeah that traffic light sure looks red for the truck the entire way through the video, guessing he just completely misjudged the yellow.

ttyymmnn > facw 10/25/2018 at 16:36

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That light was red long enough for the bus to get the green and pull into the intersection. 

ttyymmnn > Takuro Spirit 10/25/2018 at 16:42

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What’s the limit on that road? 45+?

At least. Not sure exactly where they were, but it could have been as high as 60 or 65.

Why is the newslady so dumb that she can’t see the buses’ LEFT signal on (“DPS said the bus was attempting to turn right”) when it entered the intersection?

While left side markers were blinking, you can see both rear yellows blinking. Looks like he might have had his hazards on. She’s just repeating what that DPS trooper lady said.

How long was the light green before the bus entered the intersection? Because it looks like the truck had a red for a LONG time.

Truck had a lllooonnnggg red. Certainly long enough to have stopped unless he was speeding. If he said he tried to make the yellow he’s a f**king liar.

You’d think a professional bus driver could have judged the closing speed and distance of the truck a little better...

I’m guessing the “professional” bus driver never scanned the intersection before pulling away from the line. In a county north of Austin, another “professional” bus driver drove around barricades and tried to cross a swollen stream. The bus was swept away, and both he and the one student on the bus had to be rescued. The “professional” driver was arrested.

ttyymmnn > Urambo Tauro 10/25/2018 at 16:43

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That is a relatively high speed stretch of road (I think), so it would have had a long yellow. He was dead set on blowing that light the whole time. The bus just got in his way. 

facw > Urambo Tauro 10/25/2018 at 16:45

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My experience in TX is that the yellows are very long. When I first moved down there I had lots of problems with basically stopping for yellows because I thought there was no chance they’d stay yellow long enough to make it through, and then being wrong.

Of course that leads to people being aggressive about going through the yellow because it doesn’t necessarily mean the light is about to turn red.

There were places in Austin that had lines that I think indicated you should stop on a yellow if you weren’t past them, though Houston did not have those from what I saw.

Just Jeepin' > Takuro Spirit 10/25/2018 at 16:46

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Can we please have a little civility here and basic respect?

I don’t see a left turn signal, and she’s reporting what officials said. “Why is she so dumb” is completely unnecessary.

Takuro Spirit > ttyymmnn 10/25/2018 at 16:49

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I checked again, we don’t see the right side lights to verify, but the bus was in the LEFT lane, with a car next to them turning right from the right lane. That, pus the position of the bus when hit looks to me like it was turning left.

Found the location: https://goo.gl/maps/R9byx3Uvpt22

Limit is 70.

Stupid high for a highway with cross traffic.

and 100 more > ttyymmnn 10/25/2018 at 16:49

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I drive thru that intersection every day. I saw that semi in the median ditch (but not the bus) when I drove past that intersection. The roads were very slick that morning, but if he saw the yellow, there he should have had plenty of time to stop. Its not a long yellow on that light, but it doesn’t change that quickly.

My guess is he didn’t see the light change.

EDIT: I’m rethinking this a little... T he speed limit there is 70, and that intersection is situated toward the bottom of a hill. Combined with the slick roads and a full load in the back, he might have tried to stop for a late yellow instead of barreling thru on a red, and surpassed the adhesion of his tires. I didn’t see any obvious skid marks on the pavement (to be fair, I wasn’t looking for any) on my way to work today .

HammerheadFistpunch > ttyymmnn 10/25/2018 at 16:50

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The trucks lights were on when it came to the intersection but unless the road was glare ice he was:

1. speeding

2. Put the brakes on WAAAY too late.  

PS9 > ttyymmnn 10/25/2018 at 16:52

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Optimus Prime trying to low key t ake down a decepticon before it takes some random innocent school kids to Megatron. Didn't even blow his cover. Good work! 

Takuro Spirit > Just Jeepin' 10/25/2018 at 16:53

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Sorry, just calling out FAKE NEWS when I see it. Watch the video again , the bus pulls straight across the highway with all four left amber lights blinking visibly once before being hit.

If I can see it, these DUMBASS news agencies can see it and report the news properly, and not spread misinformation given to them by a source who wasn’t on the scene, and who probably hadn’t reviewed the video evidence yet.

and 100 more > Takuro Spirit 10/25/2018 at 16:55

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Speed limit on that stretch is 70. It’s a divided highway, and the bus was attempting to cross the west bound lanes (the way the truck was coming), to turn left (you are correct).

As to why the bus driver didn’t look... Goldstar Transit is the school bus contractor, and it seems they have a hard time finding drivers, so I wouldn’t doubt that this was someone with little experience and was only technically qualified to be driving a bus.

ttyymmnn > Takuro Spirit 10/25/2018 at 16:56

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But you are implying that the news reader is supposed to actually watch the film .

ttyymmnn > Takuro Spirit 10/25/2018 at 16:57

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Stupid high for a highway with cross traffic.

True, but rather common in TX.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > ttyymmnn 10/25/2018 at 16:57

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That headline is one of a growing list of parents worst nightmares.

ttyymmnn > and 100 more 10/25/2018 at 16:58

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You’re being charitable. I think he thought he could make it. Granted, if he had hit the brakes he would have just skidded. Maybe that’s what was in his mind. Best to keep going and hope for the best?

What is the limit on 71 at that point?

ttyymmnn > MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner 10/25/2018 at 16:59

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Agreed. I put my middle schoolers on a bus every day.

and 100 more > ttyymmnn 10/25/2018 at 17:05

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It’s 70, and that intersection is after a crest. The yellow light is generally long enough, but I’ve had to stop a little faster than I’d like at that same light, going the same direction.

There are a lot of trucks that go thru there, and they usually keep the speed limit, but some run about 80 to keep up with traffic...

and 100 more > HammerheadFistpunch 10/25/2018 at 17:07

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Wet and slick that morning, but definitely not iced.

Takuro Spirit > and 100 more 10/25/2018 at 17:09

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I found the location: https://goo.gl/maps/R9byx3Uvpt22

70 seems a bit excessive for a highway with crossings. Assuming the semi could have seen the yellow and had time to stop from that speed, if the light was long enough there was no reason barring a mechanical malfunction for it to be going that fast when it turned red.

Just Jeepin' > Takuro Spirit 10/25/2018 at 17:14

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“ Sorry, just calling out FAKE NEWS when I see it.”

Oppo has rules about being excellent to one another, else I’d tell you what I think about your jackassery.

Takuro Spirit > Just Jeepin' 10/25/2018 at 17:16

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You need to calm down, you attacked me first. Didn’t know you personally know the news person, or are affiliated with their profession.

Don’t call out others. Its rude.

and 100 more > Takuro Spirit 10/25/2018 at 17:18

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Speed limits are generally higher in Texas that what you’d find for equivalent roads in other places. Because Texas. And there are not a lot of speed limit signs on that stretch, some sections are 65, but I’m pretty sure that section is 70.

Just Jeepin' > Takuro Spirit 10/25/2018 at 17:20

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You called a newsperson “dumb” over a completely irrelevant detail that she probably accurately reported, regardless of whether the source of the information was correct. You then treated this irrelevant detail like part of a global conspiracy to lie via the news.

I feel no need to not be angry about what smells like misogyny.

Takuro Spirit > Just Jeepin' 10/25/2018 at 17:23

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Just fuck the fuck off, kid. I don’t have the patience to deal with another one of these pissant little rants.

I can post whatever the fuck I want and you crybabies just feel the need to get your snowflake ass feelings hurt by picking apart every word.

Take your assumptions and your labels and stick them up your anus, where they belong.

and 100 more > HammerheadFistpunch 10/25/2018 at 17:29

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I slowed down the clip and watched it again... I’m almost certain that he didn’t even put his brakes on until he hit. Fuckin’ A...

HammerheadFistpunch > Takuro Spirit 10/25/2018 at 17:44

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H ey man, take it down a notch. It’ s all good.

HammerheadFistpunch > Just Jeepin' 10/25/2018 at 17:45

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Just step away and take a breather. I think we can all de- escalate this without too much trouble.

Just Jeepin' > HammerheadFistpunch 10/25/2018 at 18:21

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I was fine with deescalating by stepping away but apparently saying goodbye isn’t allowed here. Dunno, post deleted, no idea why.

HammerheadFistpunch > Just Jeepin' 10/25/2018 at 18:24

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I did it, did you not see my comments I drafted to you?

Just Jeepin' > HammerheadFistpunch 10/25/2018 at 18:25

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No, notifications just show a bunch of blank messages. 

Dr. Zoidberg - RIP Oppo > Urambo Tauro 10/25/2018 at 19:00

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Agreed. Of COURSE it was yellow - right before it turned red.

“Officer, I wasn’t high -- but I am NOW.”

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn 10/25/2018 at 19:29

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I concur with your appraisal, though I wonder whether the bus driver could have done any extra to help avoid that. Not placing blame, just wondering about missed opportunity.

Do you remember where Granby Street had two lights close together right at the water? I was driving the Berry Bros bus cruising through the first light as it turned yellow, about 35 mph, with the Maury JV team on board and a woman cut in front of me and decided she couldn’t make the second light and stopped quickly and it’s a good thing the pavement was dry and I had the right amount of beef on board because I only barely was able to keep from plowing into her.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > and 100 more 10/25/2018 at 19:31

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How cautious was the bus driver being at that spot in dusky morning light conditions and a new rain on the road? I’m not trying to blame the bus driver, but it’s like the ship’s captain who is in his rack when the officer of the deck lets the $2 billion destroyer crash into a freighter. At the end of the day, whose name is on the little strip above the driver’s station?

ttyymmnn > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 10/25/2018 at 19:35

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Not sure of the exact location, but I certainly understand the situation.

I wasn’t there, but I wonder if the bus driver looked both ways before entering the intersection. Another commenter said the cross street is 70 mph at that point. I can guarantee you that I would never pull off the line to cross a 70-mph road without first looking left. I do that as a rule at every intersection, since most people treat red lights like polite suggestions. 

Texasfoolontherule > ttyymmnn 10/25/2018 at 19:39

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I noticed many big trucks driving too fast for the conditions that we have had here lately. Maybe he was distracted boiling some tap water for his coffee?

Big truck drivers seem to drive like they are in their riced out civics. Are CDLs easier to get now? I reported Lykes drivers numerous times for running reds I have captured on the dash cam. People really need to settle down driving.

ttyymmnn > Texasfoolontherule 10/25/2018 at 20:43

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People do need to settle down. We’ll all get where we are going.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn 10/25/2018 at 21:03

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If they notice them at all.

and 100 more > Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo 10/26/2018 at 00:29

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I mentioned this previously; Goldstar Transit has the local school district transpo contract, but they’re under-staffed and always in need of drivers. I think they take whoever they can get. Meaning, I think lack of previous experience isn’t exactly a disqualification from being a driver.

MontegoMan562 is a Capri RS Owner > facw 10/26/2018 at 09:43

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Seriously, the kids got out without any major injuries after being sideswiped by a semi with a full load that was doing at least 60. Damn. I guess it’s fine they don’t wear seatbelts.

Rusty Vandura - www.tinyurl.com/keepoppo > ttyymmnn 10/26/2018 at 11:38

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As I watch that video again, I feel more certain that the bus driver could have avoided that accident. Not saying driver is at fault, but inexperience is Almost sure to be a factor.