Safety Board Determines Cause of Fatal School Bus Crash in Omaha, Nebraska

The National Transportation Safety Board today determined that the probable cause of a school bus crash in Nebraska was the failure of the Nebraska Department of Roads to recognize and correct the hazardous condition in the work zone created by the irregular geometry of the roadway, narrow lane widths, and speed limit. The Board believes that the failure of the traffic barrier system to redirect the accident vehicle further contributed to the severity of the accident. Also, the accident bus driver’s unfamiliarity with the vehicle was a contributing factor. As a result of this accident investigation, the Safety Board made recommendations to the Federal Highway Administration, Nebraska Department of Roads, Omaha Fire Department, National Association of State Directors of Pupil Transportation Services, and Thomas Built Buses, Inc. These recommendations deal with proper work zone safety inspections and maintenance, and training emergency responders for extricating passengers from school buses, among other issues.