6 killed as bus plunges from overpass

[laruemtt]

college baseball team. cnn just said they're saying it might be a crime scene???

ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- At least six people were killed when a charter bus carrying a college baseball team fell from an overpass onto Interstate 75 early Friday, police said.

Atlanta Police Department spokesman Joe Cobb confirmed the deaths.

"Dozens" were injured in the crash just north of downtown, Atlanta Fire Department spokesman Byron Kennedy said.

Nine of the victims were in serious condition, Cobb said, and another 20 were "walking wounded." There were 35 people on the bus, he said.

An Atlanta Journal-Constitution reporter said he saw the wreck during his morning commute and initially thought it was a jack-knifed tractor-trailer, but then realized it was a bus.

"There were young people crawling out of the bus. I just tried to help them as best I could," Mike Morris said.

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/02/bus.accident/index.html

[hlthe2b]

1. It was a chartered bus, so investigation of negligence, driver

intoxication, etc. is probably what is being alluded to as "possible crime scene." I'd say that would be routine.

Sad...

[RebelOne]

2. That happened not too far from my office.

Fortunately, I don't have to drive on I-75 because traffic is probably a nightmare now as it is the height of rush hour.

[Heidi]

3. Kick.

:kick:

[JackCo]

4. Six killed as bus plunges from overpass

http://www.cnn.com/2007/US/03/02/bus.accident/index.html

(snip)ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- At least six people were killed when a charter bus carrying a college baseball team from Ohio fell from an overpass onto Interstate 75 early Friday in Atlanta, police said.

Dozens also were injured in the crash just before dawn north of downtown, Atlanta Fire Department spokesman Byron Kennedy said.

Nine of the victims were in serious condition, Atlanta police spokesman Joe Cobb said, and another 20 were "walking wounded." There were 35 people on the bus, he said.

[hlthe2b]

5. What's with these writers? Not one has mentioned

whether or not weather was an issue... I don't see anyone at the scene in rain gear and as far as I can tell from the small grainy, dark photo, the pavement looks dry, but was there rain in the area?

Geez, you'd think they'd mention this, wouldn't you? :shrug:

[RebelOne]

6. No rain in the area this morning.

I work not too very far from where the accident happened.

[Locrian]

7. who what when where how

Im continuously amazed at the crap that goes for journalism / reporting. I learned in freaking GRADE school that you have to answer: who, what, where, when, how and why. I've seen reports that dont even give the WHERE for gods sake!

[hlthe2b]

25. That's what I was thinking earlier....

I guess we are lucky if they can spell...

[Possumpoint]

8. No Rain

Looks like driver error. Driver was in left of two HOV lanes when that lane split off to exit onto a bridge. The driver was suppose to go either left or right at the bridge but instead continue straight. The bus went over the other side of the bridge, landing on it's side on the interstate below. Looks like the driver didn't know that he/she was on an exit.

[Robson]

11. Left Lane Exits

Those left lane exits are always confusing for drivers especially when unfamiliar with an area and in poor visibility of nightime. Driver accidentally got into this exit lane and didn't realize it until too late. I consider poor highway design part of the problem.

[RebelOne]

17. I think you are right because I know that exit well, as I worked

up on Northside Drive for a while.

[Show_Me _The_Truth]

18. The idiot that designed the ATL highway system should be shot? EOM

I love how 2 major cross country Interstates merge right in downtown.

[lithiumbomb]

28. well there's not much alternative

First, violence against civil engineers just isn't very nice.

Two major interstates do merge downtown, as well as GA 400 a bit to the north, and intersect I-20 smack in the middle. This basic design through downtown is pretty ancient as it was done in the 1950s to standards at the time (though it's been widened and revised pretty much endlessly since then, not much left but the basic alignment). There's not really any way to redo it without demolishing downtown or telling people to stay home. Ideally, through traffic is supposed to take I285, not the connector. Through tractor-trailers are required by law to do so.

I suspect the signage could use some improvement, however if you're paying attention, this ramp is signposted as an exit. If it's at night and you're on auto-pilot and following the median wall (rather than looking ahead), then up the ramp you'll go. Better signs, flashing lights, rumble strips, lots could be done. But it's a straight bit of highway exiting onto a perpendicular road, you can't really put curves in the ramp to slow people down.

If anyone wants to fix any part of the system, the I-75 south to I-85 north ramp is a nasty decreasing radius turn. Another relic from the 50s, not much room to redo it, but the turn claims a few vehicles a week. If you hit it too fast you either smash into a mound of dirt or go straight over a big jump, dukes of hazzard style, and keep heading south in the HOV lane. Thankfully i think this results in more smashed cars and embarrassment than any deaths.

I'm not saying they don't need improvement. Driving in Atlanta is a dangerous mess. There's the wish list - safer highways, people using mass transit, moving closer to work, etc etc. But in reality nothing is going to change until there is more money and public will to make it so. And for that to happen traffic will have to get much much worse, or fuel prices get much much higher.

[AngryOldDem]

13. Probably a combination of...

1) half-light (accident happened before sunup, from what I understand)
2) driver's unfamiliarity with that stretch of highway. Sounds like he thought he was still on 75 when in fact he was at the top of the exit ramp.

Very tragic.

[radfringe]

9. check this out

http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=389x322141

[brentspeak]

10. Hopefully, by "crime scene" they don't mean a replay of what happened in Atlanta two years ago

When a trucker crashed along Donald Lee Holloway Parkway after trying to avoid rocks being thrown at him. He was then pulled out of his flipped rig by groups of savages who then "had fun" by bashing his skull with cement rocks.

[Corgigal]

19. It means traffic homicide

Special investigators have to do a full report, because they have to find out exactly what happened. Pics, measurements the whole thing. This could mean criminal charges or the minimum, lots of court cases. These cops also work with the ME's office and do a full report on the injury's of the victims. This will be a lengthy investigation.

My hubby was a traffic homicide detective. People still want to know what happened to loved ones.

[alcuno]

12. I think I've made the same mistake as this bus driver with the hov lane.

When I was listening to this story this morning, I was struck by how many times I had driven through Atlanta from Chicago and had this same problem. If you are not familiar with how the lanes work, it's really confusing. I've accidentally exited I-75 a couple of times and had to get back on. That doesn't explain how the bus flipped over, but I think I know exactly how he got off of I-75 in the first place.

[geiger]

14. A nephew of mine has sustained multiple leg fractures and smashed face bones

he is one of the ones who is going to make it.

[AngryOldDem]

15. Poli --- from a friend on the Ohio board

My thoughts are with you and your family. :hug:

[geiger]

16. thanks, this makes us take pause and be thankful for everyday small miracles

[JackCo]

20. Glad

I'm glad your nephew is one of the lucky ones. Thoughts go out to your family and others touched by this tragedy.

[geiger]

21. thanks, and the survivors have to deal with the grief and loss; like one of them said, they'll

never be the same.

I work at a college and am thinking about our students leaving for spring break next week. I wish them safety and health.

[AngryOldDem]

23. I was just thinking about that

It's times like these when you wish you could keep your kids with you forever. My heart went out to the young man they interviewed -- I don't think I've ever seen such poise, composure, and class, especially under such horrific circumstances. It was kind of unclear whether or not his brother was OK -- but they live nearby and the local news said the brother is also OK (hurt, but otherwise OK). Thank God.

Please keep us posted on your nephew.

[geiger]

24. Posted this afternoon on Toledo Blade website

His mother is quoted in the article.

http://www.toledoblade.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20070302/DEVELOPINGNEWS/303020014

[cmd]

26. I wish him a speedy recovery

One of the players was from Dover. I don't know him or his family, just that he is in serious condition in ICU. There are several stories
on the Times Reporter website.
http://www.timesreporter.com/

[geiger]

27. I think there are 19 still critical

besides the fact they are being cautious about all of them, young, athletes, "resilient," not as likely to go into shock as other less healthy individuals. It is very scary.

[LeftyMom]

22. OMG, that's my kid's dad's alma mater and former employer.

I should call the kid's grandparents, they live blocks away from the uni and it's a small town, they probably know a lot of the families whose kids were hurt if not the kids themselves.