| Author |
 Topic  |
|
|
bus724
Top Member
USA
1609 Posts |
 Posted - 07/20/2010 : 4:48:10 PM
|
State Police Arrest Teen Driver Of Car In Fatal January Bus Crash
Rocky Hill Teen Died After Bus Went Off I-84 In Hartford
HARTFORD — —
State police have arrested a Glastonbury teenager whose car was involved in the Jan. 9 crash with a school bus that killed a 16-year-old Rocky Hill student.
Christopher Toppi, who was 16 at the time of the crash, was arrested at Troop H in Hartford at 8:40 a.m. Tuesday.
He was charged with negligent homicide with a motor vehicle, failure to drive in the proper lane and traveling too fast for conditions. He was released on a promise to appear in court on Aug. 2.
It is unclear whether the state police are seeking charges against the school bus driver, Paul Burns.
The crash killed Vikas Parikh, 16, of Rocky Hill, who was a passenger in the bus.
The crash happened about 8 a.m. on Jan. 9, when a school bus carrying two teachers and 16 students from the Greater Hartford Academy of Mathematics and Science was heading west on I-84 toward Farmington to watch a video that would kick off a robotics competition.
The bus and the Volvo collided between exits 46 and 45. Sources said both vehicles had passed a Honda in the middle lane. Toppi was in the passing lane and Burns was in the far right lane.
The accident occurred as both Toppi and Burns were trying to move back into the middle lane, sources said. The back passenger side of Toppi's Volvo station wagon struck the front driver's side of the school bus.
The bus careened through a guardrail on the north side of the highway and plunged down an embankment, stopping 20 feet below, according to a police report.
Parikh died of blunt traumatic head injury. At least four other students on the bus suffered serious injuries.
"The state's attorney I am sure is going to do a thorough review of this matter," Hartford attorney Salvatore Bonanno, who is representing Toppi, said in June after it was learned that police had filed an arrest warrant in May.
The state Department of Motor Vehicles suspended Burns' privilege to drive a school bus after the crash because the bus was larger than what he is qualified to drive. Burns is licensed to drive school buses that weigh up to 26,000 pounds and carry 15 or fewer people, including the driver. The bus he drove that day weighed 29,800 pounds.
DMV spokesman William Seymour said last month that the department hasn't held a hearing on Burns' license because he asked that it be delayed until the criminal probe is completed.
Seymour said the DMV is still investigating the accident as well. Sources said the department may file misdemeanor charges against Burns if he is not arrested by the state police.
Four lawsuits already have been filed by teachers and students who were injured in the crash.
http://www.courant.com/news/connecticut/hc-fatal-bus-crash-arrest-0721-20100720,0,4816140.story |
|
|
bus724
Top Member
USA
1609 Posts |
Posted - 07/20/2010 : 4:52:56 PM
|
| This accident was the first school bus passenger fatality in CT since the state began keeping such records. This accident led to recently-passed legislation that provides incentives for seat belts on school buses. The media has also been investigating every school bus operator in CT, reporting on less-than-perfect maintenance and inspection records, and pushing the seat belt issue. |
 |
|
|
bus724
Top Member
USA
1609 Posts |
|
|
JK
Top Member
USA
7307 Posts |
Posted - 07/22/2010 : 07:10:48 AM
|
Kill one child it's a travesty -- kill hundreds over time it's a statistic. Very sad for the loss of another student riding the safest transportation to and from school. Hundreds have died over the years that even lapbelts may have prevented most of the deaths. But just as advantageous is the calming of the school bus, the resulting fewer driver distractions that so obviously reduces crashes, and the reality that belts on the school buses teach children to buckle no matter what vehicle they are riding in. So far Flexseat has came up with the best video to show the value of belts on the buses. A link to their video is posted below. I think also the liability now involved on beltless school buses has become too high to ignore. It was cost that caused the industry to fight these safety devices on the school buses, and it may be money again from escalating litigation costs that results in their installation nationwide. Providers are no longer protected from liability because installation is not required in their state. The only answer now on a beltless bus is do not crash the bus. (jk)
Seat Belts on School Buses - One District's Experience
Click Here for Video Report | Backup Link - May work better on older PC's
NEW FOR 2010 SCHOOL YEAR!
Stopping bullying on the school buses - Fast Track slide presentation to help stop bullying on the school buses. Includes class handouts. Free to use in self-study, for class training, and for presentation to the school board. Click Here for Link (See Post # 14) |
|
|
| |
Topic |
|
|
|
CT: Police Arrest Driver of Car in Fatal Bus Crash
