Ohio Father of Bus Crash Victim Praises New Law

The father of an Ohio baseball player killed in a 2007 bus crash says a new federal law will improve bus safety and save lives.

John Betts of Bryan has pushed for stronger safety measures since his 20-year-old son, David, died when a charter bus carrying Bluffton University’s baseball team flipped off a Georgia overpass. Five players, the driver and his wife were killed.

The Plain Dealer reports Betts was at a Cleveland bus station Sunday to speak about the measure signed into law Friday. It requires that new buses have seat belts and harnesses, crush-resistant roofs, flame-resistant interiors and other safety features. It doesn’t require that such features be added to existing buses.

Betts says he believes the regulations will keep others from severe injury or death.