Many people who travel to New York City do so with excitement. The city is one they’ve likely seen on television for most of their lives, and visiting these landmarks may seem like an eventful getaway. Several tourists and pedestrians were probably not anticipating a bus crash that left numerous people injured and police with a number of questions as to what might have led to the motor vehicle accident.
The accident happened in Times Square when one double-decker bus packed with sightseers apparently crashed into another. Police say the bus came to a stop on the sidewalk near the TKTS ticket booth. Fourteen people were injured in the incident and had to be taken to a local hospital.
Though the bus driver accused of causing the accident had the proper licensing to operate the vehicle, police say they discovered that he had several infractions listed on his driving record. They do concede that his driving privileges were restored before this accident and that he held a valid driver’s license. Police say they conducted a field sobriety test on the driver after the incident, and that although he failed, preliminary drug test results have not indicated that he was under the influence. They have clarified that they are awaiting a full toxicology report before they make any decisions relating to potential criminal charges.
Even if the bus driver doesn’t face any criminal action, those who were injured could decide to file a civil claim against him and/or the New York bus company that employed him. A successfully litigated claim could result in monetary restitution that might be useful in covering any medical expenses the victims may have incurred as a result of the motor vehicle accident. They have every right to explore their options after such a troubling incident that was otherwise supposed to be a happy time in their lives.
Source: The Huffington Post, “DA: Drug Tests Negative In Times Square Double-Decker Bus Crash”, Tom Hays, Aug. 7, 2014
