The National Traffic Safety Board met to discuss a possible ban on cell phone use while driving, as a 2010 fatal accident's probable cause was cell phone use.

Andrew Kim Law Firm, PLLC | Washington Legal News

The Probable Cause of Accident, Sparking Driving and Phone Use Ban | Bellevue Car Accident Lawyer


Posted on Jan 07, 2012

The topic of cell phone use while driving has taken center stage as the National Traffic Safety Board met to revisit the probable cause of a collision that occured in 2010, allegedly caused by texting while driving.

August 5, 2010
In Gray Summit, Missouri, traffic was slowing while approaching an active work-zone.  The left lane of eastbound Interstate 44 was closed, leading motorists to merge into the right lane.  A Volvo truck-tractor without a trailer was slowed/stopped for traffic in the right lane. A GMC Sierra pickup truck with an extended cab was also traveling eastbound on Interstate 44 when the driver of the pickup truck merged from the left lane to the right lane, colliding with the rear of the truck-tractor.

Following behind were two St. James High School buses.  The first bus passed a motorcoach that was pulled over to the side of the roadway.  Just seconds later, the bus crashed into the rear of the GMC pickup, forcing the pickup forward and overturning it onto the back of the Volvo truck-tractor.  The lead bus was pushed forward and upward, coming to rest on top of the GMC pickup, which was now on top of the truck-tractor.  The second bus then stuck the rear of the lead bus.

Probable Cause
The NTSB concluded the probable cause of the first collision, between the GMC pick up and truck-tractor, was the result of distracted driving, likely text messaging.  The distraction caused the GMC pick up driver to fail to notice and react to the truck-tractor.

The second collision, between the lead school bus and the GMC pick up, was likely due to the distracted bus driver, as their attention was not on the forward roadway, but rather on the motorcoach on the shoulder.

The third and final collision, between the lead and following school bus, was the result of the following school bus driver's failure to maintain the recommended following distance from the lead school bus.

The severity of the accident was also contributed to by the absence of forward warning signals on both school buses.


This information has been provided by the National Traffic Safety Board and their article related to the 2010 accident and subsequent board meeting, as a service of the Andrew Kim Law Firm.  Our office is a Bellevue personal injury firm specializing in injuries caused by car accidents, bus accidents and truck accidents all over Western Washington.  For a free consultation, contact our office at (425) 289-1990; (253) 682-2000 or toll free at (800) 636-3676.

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Bellevue
10655 NE 4th Street
Suite 208
Bellevue, WA 98004
Phone: (425) 289-1990
Fax: (425) 289-1991
Toll Free: (800) 636-3676

Tacoma
3848 S. Junett
Tacoma, WA 98409
Phone: (253) 682-2000
Toll Free: (800) 636-3676

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