Dozens of college students returning home from Thanksgiving ended up in Richmond area hospitals Sunday night after their charter bus overturned on on exit ramp in Chesterfield, Virginia. The driver and 34 passengers were injured, one with life threatening injuries.
The passengers, mostly college students from Virginia universities, were returning to their campuses at the end of their Thanksgiving holiday. The bus was bound for the University of Virginia after departing Virginia Commonwealth University.
Police believe speed to be a factor in the crash. Virginia State Police charged the Abbott Trailways bus driver with reckless driving, alleging the operator failed to slow the vehicle down while getting on the Chippen Parkway (Route 150) from Powhite Parkway (Route 76).
Abbott Trailways is based out of Roanoke, Virginia. The company offers a variety of travel accommodations including travel packages for students. The company’s website claims Abbott Trailways provides “Reliable and Dependable Transportation” and “experienced driving staff.”
Sunday’s incident is not the first time an Abbott Trailways bus driver was involved in a charter bus crash. In May 2015, police charged an Abbott Trailways bus driver with exceeding a safe speed after a bus carrying members of the Carolina Mudcats minor league baseball team flipped over in Columbus County, North Carolina.
As a law firm committed to public safety, The Cochran Firm, D.C. is actively monitoring the situation. While our law firm is not representing an injury victims in this particular crash at this time, we have years of experience advocating for the rights of plaintiffs.
The Cochran Firm, D.C. regularly represents catastrophic injury victims and holds wrongdoers accountable for their negligent actions. If you’ve been injured, contact The Cochran Firm, D.C. for a free legal consultation.
