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kentuckynascar1
Advanced Member
USA
489 Posts |
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Thomas Ford 85-16
Top Member
USA
4177 Posts |
 Posted - 10/29/2012 : 5:41:33 PM
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| I am so so shocked at the damage to that bus, wow. |
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Jake
Top Member
USA
3527 Posts |
Posted - 10/29/2012 : 6:21:00 PM
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| That is the worst bus accident I have seen in a long time... my thoughts and prayers go out to the families of those affected. |
Yellow & Black
A new forum community dedicated to school bus driving, operations, maintenance and enthusiasts!
Come join the discussion! |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4544 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2012 : 03:09:28 AM
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| Wow. What body company made that? |
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kentuckynascar1
Advanced Member
USA
489 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2012 : 05:31:33 AM
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quote:
Originally posted by Thomasbus24
Wow. What body company made that?
Looks like an IC. Never seen one come off the frame like that. Truly a devastating accident. |
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Jake
Top Member
USA
3527 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2012 : 08:36:04 AM
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| It was a 36 passenger IC CE. |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4544 Posts |
Posted - 10/30/2012 : 2:29:11 PM
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| Oh yeah, I see the logo now. Again...wow. |
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kentuckynascar1
Advanced Member
USA
489 Posts |
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bus724
Top Member
USA
1609 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2012 : 04:06:52 AM
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In a severe crash, the body-on-chassis design is actually supposed to separate. Doing so absorbs a lot of the crash forces and reduces the impact to the passenger compartment. Even in low-speed crashes, it's normal to see the body on a school bus shift a few inches to the front or back. It's similar to the concept of crumple zones on a lot of cars - the visible damage to the car appears worse but it actually reduces the risk to the passengers.
Such a tragedy. I wonder how fast the bus was going to sustain that much damage. I would speculate that the fatalities were seated closest to the point of impact with the tree. |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4544 Posts |
Posted - 10/31/2012 : 12:34:26 PM
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| Thats...interesting. Appears that the floor seperated just behind the stepwell (among other things). This needs to be examined further. |
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Thomas Ford 85-16
Top Member
USA
4177 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2012 : 6:01:44 PM
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Like bus724 says, the body separation is something we see in many accidents. What surprised me is how much the bus wrapped around that tree. I would have hoped the roof would perform better. I guess trees are tougher than expected. 
Anyone remember this?
http://www.bandytown.com/Bus%20Accident/pictures.htm
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Edited by - Thomas Ford 85-16 on 11/01/2012 6:06:57 PM |
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JRob
Advanced Member
207 Posts |
Posted - 11/01/2012 : 7:01:03 PM
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| It's a stretch to say the chassis/ body separation is a design feature of a school bus. Over the years there have been instances when such a thing has been considered a benefit when it happened. However, no performance criteria exists or is used to design a "breakaway" from the chassis. |
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Thomasbus24
Administrator
USA
4544 Posts |
Posted - 11/02/2012 : 03:03:48 AM
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Ward/AmTran was eager to run to the media when the Fox River Grove train vs. bus crash happened in 1995, people expressed concern over how the bus broke apart, Ward "explained" that it was designed that way. That notion has kind of stuck.
Funny to note that if you look at 1980's bus literature on Ebay, Ward had an ad boasting that a "Ward body has never lost a chassis in a crash".
I can see how a body sliding forward a few inches during a frontal crash does absorb impact energy by reducing the rate at which bus occupants slow and/or change direction.
This crash, might have been better had the chassis stayed attached to the floor, stiffening it. Looks like the floor seperated at the joint behind the stepwell, that MAY have been preventable. Large openings in the bus body are not a good thing. See also how the right front corner pillar tore away up at the roofcap...again...large openings aren't good.
If it has to happen, I'd rather see the bus body stay intact, not ripped apart with the chassis' departure.
What blows my mind about this incident, the driver is reported as UNINJURED. |
Edited by - Thomasbus24 on 11/02/2012 03:05:41 AM |
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School Bus Overturns in Carroll County, KY
