NTSB investigating deadly school bus accident

Investigators from the National Transportation Safety Board were in Missouri Friday to look at the horrific interstate crash that killed a 15-year-old girl on a school bus and the driver of another vehicle.

Officials will look into what factors may have caused the wreck and how to prevent similar accidents, NTSB Vice Chairman Christopher Hunt said Friday.

“We’ve been interested for some time in school bus safety,” Hart said. “We’re also interested in construction zone safety.”

The accident happened Thursday on Interstate 44, about 40 miles from St. Louis. A semi cab slowed for road construction and was struck by a GMC pickup. Two buses carrying high school band students then slammed into that wreck.

The accident killed 15-year-old Jessica Brinker and the pickup driver, 19-year-old Daniel Schatz. Nearly 50 students were treated for mostly minor injuries.

The band students from John F. Hodge High School in St. James were on their way to a day of fun at Six Flags St. Louis, and were about 10 miles from the amusement park when the wreck happened.

No charges have been filed in the wreck. Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. Jeff Wilson said it will be up to Franklin County prosecutors to decide that.

Hart said the NTSB isn’t interested in pointing fingers.

“We are here to determine the cause of the accident, not looking at blame,” he said.

Among other issues, the NTSB will examine whether seat belts on the bus could have helped. He said investigators will also consider the possible benefits of accident-avoidance technology for vehicles such as school buses that would provide some warning to drivers
about impending slowdowns and automatically apply brakes.