Bus Company Shut Down by Federal Government

The U.S. Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has ordered a passenger carrier operating in the United States to stop operations after a deadly bus crash in southern California.

In a statement released on Friday, February 8, FMCSA ordered Scapadas Magicas LLC to shut down immediately.

On February 3,  a bus operated by the company was transporting 38 people to Tijuana, Mexico when it crashed on a mountain road, colliding with two other vehicles east of San Bernardino, California.  In the deadly crash, seven passengers lost their lives, and dozens were injured.  Tragically, one driver of a vehicle hit by the bus was also killed. The driver of the bus said the brakes failed before it crashed into a car, and then flipped, colliding with a pickup truck, before crashing on the mountain road.

Ray LaHood Secretary of the U.S. Transportation Department stated that safety is the agency’s number one priority and “we will not tolerate unsafe bus companies on our nation’s roads.”

FMCSA inspectors performed a investigation after the crash on Scapadas Magicas’ two other motor coaches operating in this country and discovered serious mechanical safety violations,which resulted in both buses being pulled from service.  According to regulators, contrary to information provided by company officials in January of this year, investigators discovered  the tour bus company failed to ensure that its vehicles were inspected, repaired and maintained regularly, as well as ensuring that its drivers were both properly qualified and licensed.

Original story found here.

Archives