This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2015/nov/06/arkansas-little-rock-bus-crash-six-killed

The article has changed 2 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 0 Version 1
Authorities investigate Little Rock charter bus crash that killed six people Authorities investigate Little Rock charter bus crash that killed six people
(about 2 hours later)
Arkansas authorities said on Friday a charter bus that crashed near Little Rock, killing six people, was traveling from Michigan to Texas.Arkansas authorities said on Friday a charter bus that crashed near Little Rock, killing six people, was traveling from Michigan to Texas.
Arkansas state police major Mike Foster said the bus was traveling from Monroe, Michigan, to Laredo, Texas, when it crashed on Interstate 40. Foster said the bus was being used by Vasquez Citrus and Hauling based in Lake Placid, Florida.Arkansas state police major Mike Foster said the bus was traveling from Monroe, Michigan, to Laredo, Texas, when it crashed on Interstate 40. Foster said the bus was being used by Vasquez Citrus and Hauling based in Lake Placid, Florida.
Foster said the bus had 22 people on board: the 29-year-old driver, two employees of Vasquez Citrus and Hauling and 19 other passengers.Foster said the bus had 22 people on board: the 29-year-old driver, two employees of Vasquez Citrus and Hauling and 19 other passengers.
The cause of the crash remained under investigation, though authorities said there was no indication drugs or alcohol were involved.The cause of the crash remained under investigation, though authorities said there was no indication drugs or alcohol were involved.
Arkansas state police colonel Bill Bryant said authorities were still trying to determine why the driver of the bus drove into a concrete barrier and crashed into a bridge overpass, shearing the roof off the bus.Arkansas state police colonel Bill Bryant said authorities were still trying to determine why the driver of the bus drove into a concrete barrier and crashed into a bridge overpass, shearing the roof off the bus.
Bryant said three of the dead were thrown from the bus, but the driver was not injured. Six people were injured but were treated and released from hospitals.Bryant said three of the dead were thrown from the bus, but the driver was not injured. Six people were injured but were treated and released from hospitals.
Arkansas state police said the crash occurred about 1am. A heavy storm had recently passed through the area and left light rain and fog in its wake, but it wasn’t immediately known if weather played a role. Arkansas state police said the crash occurred at about 1am. A heavy storm had recently passed through the area and left light rain and fog in its wake, but it wasn’t immediately known if weather played a role.
Photographs from Little Rock television stations KATV and KTHV showed the bus with nearly all its roof torn off, with most of the damage toward the rear of the vehicle. Traffic was snarled for hours, but all debris and the bus were towed away before daybreak.Photographs from Little Rock television stations KATV and KTHV showed the bus with nearly all its roof torn off, with most of the damage toward the rear of the vehicle. Traffic was snarled for hours, but all debris and the bus were towed away before daybreak.
Pulaski County coroner Gerone Hobbs confirmed the six fatalities to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences said it received three patients at its hospital. Two were treated and released and a third was admitted to the hospital in fair condition, UAMS said.Pulaski County coroner Gerone Hobbs confirmed the six fatalities to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper. The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences said it received three patients at its hospital. Two were treated and released and a third was admitted to the hospital in fair condition, UAMS said.
The American Red Cross tended to eight people on the bus who were uninjured, regional communications director Brigette Williams said. Williams said the company the eight worked for was putting them in an area hotel. Williams did not have any information about the name of the company or the type of work it did.The American Red Cross tended to eight people on the bus who were uninjured, regional communications director Brigette Williams said. Williams said the company the eight worked for was putting them in an area hotel. Williams did not have any information about the name of the company or the type of work it did.
Williams said the Red Cross is providing mental health services for the survivors of the wreck.Williams said the Red Cross is providing mental health services for the survivors of the wreck.
“As you can imagine, people are pretty shaken by this,” she said.“As you can imagine, people are pretty shaken by this,” she said.
Television station KTHV said on its Twitter feed on Friday morning that the passengers were on a business trip. The station posted a photo showing a white bus with “Continental” in broad letters on the side being towed from the scene.Television station KTHV said on its Twitter feed on Friday morning that the passengers were on a business trip. The station posted a photo showing a white bus with “Continental” in broad letters on the side being towed from the scene.
Jeff Lawson, who identified himself as the owner of Continental Charters in Detroit, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper he sold a bus Saturday to a man who “said he needed a second bus to haul people from (Detroit) to Texas … and Florida”.Jeff Lawson, who identified himself as the owner of Continental Charters in Detroit, told the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette newspaper he sold a bus Saturday to a man who “said he needed a second bus to haul people from (Detroit) to Texas … and Florida”.
Lawson said that as part of the sale, he stipulated that the buyer remove the “Continental” lettering from the bus. He said Continental Charters did not have any scheduled routes in Arkansas on Thursday and does not regularly operate in the area.Lawson said that as part of the sale, he stipulated that the buyer remove the “Continental” lettering from the bus. He said Continental Charters did not have any scheduled routes in Arkansas on Thursday and does not regularly operate in the area.
The accident occurred along westbound Interstate 40 near its busy intersection with US 67-167 in the Little Rock metropolitan area. The interchange is a bit tricky, requiring drivers to change lanes if they want to follow the route numbers that brought them into the area. They have about a minute to chart a course and execute it.The accident occurred along westbound Interstate 40 near its busy intersection with US 67-167 in the Little Rock metropolitan area. The interchange is a bit tricky, requiring drivers to change lanes if they want to follow the route numbers that brought them into the area. They have about a minute to chart a course and execute it.
The National Transportation Safety Board was sending investigators to Arkansas to look into safety issues related to the crash, spokesman Eric Weiss said. Investigators will focus on driver fatigue and how passengers were protected, but may look into other issues once they get on the scene, he said.The National Transportation Safety Board was sending investigators to Arkansas to look into safety issues related to the crash, spokesman Eric Weiss said. Investigators will focus on driver fatigue and how passengers were protected, but may look into other issues once they get on the scene, he said.
“We are looking at different issues that may contribute to safety nationwide,” Weiss said.“We are looking at different issues that may contribute to safety nationwide,” Weiss said.