Deadly Bus Crash Among the Worst in Nation's History

Sherman, TXA horrific Texas bus crash took 17 lives on Friday, making it one of the deadliest in history. Preliminary investigations reveal a growing trail of outrageous conduct that somehow did not prevent the doomed bus from venturing out onto the nation's highways, loaded with passengers, when it had no business doing so.

The tour bus was carrying at least 30 passengers northbound along I-75 near the Texas-Oklahoma border when it skidded out of control for about 130 feet near Exit 56. Slamming into a guardrail, the doomed bus skidded a further 120 feet before coming to rest down an embankment near a creek.

Panicked calls to 911 talked of passengers trapped underneath the bus, which was resting on its side.

In all, 17 people died. The driver, at last report, remained in hospital in critical condition. While the investigation is ongoing and there is no conclusive evidence as to what caused the crash, it has been reported that the right front tire blew out.

The tragedy is that the bus had no business to be on the road in the first place.

It has been reported that one of the principles of the bus, Iguala BusMex, had applied in June for a federal license to operate as a charter but was still awaiting approval at the time of the crash. Meanwhile Angel Tours Inc., the sponsoring tour organization, was forced by federal regulators to take its vehicles out of interstate service June 23rd following an unsatisfactory review.

Among other excursions, Angel Tours had organized tours to a religious festival in Carthage, Missouri. Another tour bus allegedly owned by Iguala BusMex was taken out of service at the festival before it had the chance to hit the road, as it was unauthorized to operate. Sadly, the doomed tour bus full of Vietnamese pilgrims that crashed Friday morning was somehow missed.

The unlicensed aspects of the operators notwithstanding, focus is now turning to both the mechanical condition of the bus, and the condition of the driver at the time of the crash.

The latter, Barrett Wayne Broussard, reported as being 52 years of age, allegedly has been saddled with numerous citations that suggest he should never have been behind the wheel in the first place.

The Associated Press reported that Broussard's driving record includes various citations for driving while intoxicated, in 2001, and for driving over the speed limit in May 2004, and again in March 2007. According to a spokesperson with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), Broussard had his license suspended for two months in 2001 because of a DUI conviction in Harris County, Texas, of that year.

It has also been reported that Broussard failed random roadside inspections twice last year, and the buses he was driving at the time were pulled out of service.

It was not reported for whom he was driving, at the time.

Back to that right front tire that blew: it was found to be a retreaded tire, which is in violation of safety standards.

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) has reportedly ordered Iguala BusMex, and Angel Tours Inc. to immediately cease commercial operations. FMCSA also issued a second order, finding that the activities of Angel De La Torre, owner and president of the bus companies, "in connection with motor carrier operations (that) pose an 'imminent hazard' to the public."

That's cold comfort for the families of the 17 dead pilgrims who were celebrating their faith on a simple bus ride home.

You can bet there will be lawsuits over this.