Driver in deadly Bryce Canyon crash was new to the bus company that caters to Chinese tourists

The driver involved in the tour bus crash in Bryce Canyon that killed four Chinese tourists and injured 27 more was new to the bus company and it was his first time driving, according to the National Transportation Safety Board.

The NTSB have taken over the investigation into what happened during Friday’s deadly crash, which may have been caused when the driver lost control while multitasking.

In a Sunday news conference, Pete Kotowski of the NTSB, said 10 members of his organization were sent to the crash site and were briefed by investigators with the Utah Highway Patrol. Two were then sent to California to interview the driver who had returned home after being released from the hospital. The NTSB has not talked to him yet.

“We are still in the process of gathering additional information about the driver and one of the areas we will look at is the motor carrier’s hiring practices,” Kotowski said.

The investigators will also look into the driver’s medical history. Troopers took a blood sample from him, but it has not yet been processed.

The bus itself was a 2017 freight liner that had a capacity of 37 people including the driver. The NTSB will investigate the bus to determine its “crash worthiness.” These things include the windows, side panels and ceiling.

“We will examine, in addition to the normal safety inspections, things such as the steering, frame, brakes, suspension, tires and wheels,” Kotowski said.

The NTSB will also look into the seating, such as the types, their attachments and seat belts. Interviews with passengers will help determine the position of everyone in the bus and their movement during the crash.

The NTSB will issue a preliminary report in a few weeks after they leave the scene, but will continue to investigate.

“Our process is thorough but lengthy,” Kotowski said. “We expect to complete this investigation in 12 to 24 months.”

The crash happened on Friday, 3 ½ miles west of Bryce Canyon National Park. According to the highway patrol, Ling Geng, 68; Xiuyun Chen, 67; Zhang Caiyu, 62; and Zhongliang Caiyu, 65, were killed in the crash. They were all from Shanghai.

from The Salt Lake Tribune https://ift.tt/353pfIo