Relatives of Ga. Bus Crash Victims File Claims

October 21, 2007

  • October 22, 2007 at 11:38 am
    lastbat says:
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    I seem to have missed where the state should be liable for this. I read it twice but still didn’t see it. Somebody please clarify this for me.

    And emotional damages? Get over it people! Grab your boot straps like the rest of us and just deal. Wimps.

  • October 22, 2007 at 11:49 am
    exjarhead says:
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    This one was on 60 minutes. The on ramp is deceptive and not well signed. The bus driver thought he was on the freeway and accelarated to highway speeds. The on-ramp terminates into an intersection. The bus driver did not have time to stop and went over the railing… The GA DOT will be on the hook for this one.

  • October 22, 2007 at 11:57 am
    Current Atlantan says:
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    My apologies, as I did incorrectly identify the interstate… It is I-75. Nonetheless, the ramp ends in a “T” intersection that has stop signs on BOTH SIDES. This is an unfortunate result of an inattentive driver. Additionally, only one other vehicle has had a similar accident, in driving over the retaining wall on the far side of the intersection.

  • October 22, 2007 at 12:43 pm
    Nobody Important says:
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    I remember seeing the ramp on the news and it’s very confusing. With the extreme amount of traffic and the high speeds on the interstates in Atlanta it’s easy to see how anyone could have been confused on this exit. I agree that someone is going to be on the hook for this one.

  • October 22, 2007 at 1:46 am
    Former Atlantan says:
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    There are signs as you are approaching and if you follow the lines of the road then you will proceed down the interstate. The only way to get there is to actively change lanes to the left…
    You can claim to be confused by a left exit lane (because that is unusual) but if you follow the signs you know it’s an exit. The bus driver was distracted and the accident was his fault.

  • October 22, 2007 at 2:33 am
    Another former Atlantan says:
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    Can’t agree with you, Former Atlantan. While I agree that there are signs, that exit ramp is VERY confusing – especially at night. Adding the existence of left lane HOV lanes in Atlanta, that exit ramp is just an invitation for accidents such as the one that occurred to happen. Perhaps you will recall statements of others who have experienced the same issue there. This was not a fluke accident. That ramp is dangerous. If not, why is the DOT looking at options to change it? The government doesn’t like to admit that it is EVER wrong!

  • October 22, 2007 at 2:34 am
    Another former Atlantan says:
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    Can’t agree with you, Former Atlantan. While I agree that there are signs, that exit ramp is VERY confusing – especially at night. Adding the existence of left lane HOV lanes in Atlanta, that exit ramp is just an invitation for accidents such as the one that occurred to happen. Perhaps you will recall statements of others who have experienced the same issue there. This was not a fluke accident. That ramp is dangerous. If not, why is the DOT looking at options to change it? The government doesn’t like to admit that it is EVER wrong!

  • October 22, 2007 at 2:37 am
    Another Former Atlantan says:
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    Sorry about the multiple entries, folks. I never did get a confirmation that my message was sent. It wasn’t ‘operator error,’ I promise!

  • October 22, 2007 at 2:38 am
    Current Atlantan says:
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    This accident was tragic, no doubt. It’s sad that the media is now your conclusive source for liability assessment. You guys should know better. 60 Minutes did not show you how the ramp actually functions. Literally thousands of cars, trucks and busses pass over this ramp thousands of times daily without driving over the retaining wall that is clearly marked with arrows, lines and signs. There is actually very little traffic in the wee (dark) hours when the bus went over the retaining wall onto the highway below. The general Atlanta volume of traffic and speed of the traffic flow had nothing to do with this accident. I drive onto this ramp at least once a month and it is clearly marked. (It is not really even a “ramp,” but an access to the Atlanta perimeter highway, I-285.) It could only have been driver error that caused this accident. Isn’t anyone considering that this driver had driven through the night to get this team to playoffs? That was poor planning by the team, university, bus company and driver. It made for a fatigued driver who made a fatal error. Again, tragic, but the State of Georgia’s “fault?” There’s only ever been one similar accident in that location. That’s not exactly evidence of prior notice or negligent design. And if we’re throwing the State of Georgia into the mix, what about the engineers and architects who designed it? How about the contractors who built it? It appears to be a tragic accident and an attempt to attach any deep pocket remotely available.

  • October 22, 2007 at 2:53 am
    I love Atlanta says:
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    I hate this exit ramp! Deep pockets or not this is most asinine ramp I have ever seen in my life. Is it any wonder there aren’t more like it in Atlanta? It’s stupid to begin with and has no viable function as far I am concerned except an accident(s) waiting to happen. SOmeone from out of town could EASILY not know what they’re doing and any native that tired and confused could do the same. Do you know the tally of near misses? No, I don’t think the average Atlantan does. The GA DOT just wanted to try something new and funky and looked where it landed them.



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