At the end of January, a 77-year old school bus driver hit several different vehicles after she suffered from a medical condition while driving, according to a Chicago Tribune article. Elaine C. Delaney, the driver, lost control of the bus after suffering from an unspecified medical issue. Around 2:30 pm, the bus went into oncoming traffic along Oakton Street. No students were on the bus at the time.
Delaney was charged for several different traffic violations, including three counts for driving in the wrong lane, disobeying traffic control signals and driving too fast for conditions, according to Park Ridge Deputy Police Chief. Delaney had been driving for a private bus company, Septran Inc. The president of Septran Inc., Bob Hach, said that he has contracts with more than 50 districts throughout the area. Hach, also, stated that the bus Delaney was driving was a 71-passenger bus that would have had 40 to 50 children on board if the accident had occurred a half-hour later.
Delaney had worked for the company for 15 years and has had an excellent record as an employee. Although, the company has begun to investigate the reasons for the accident and are also waiting for more information from the police before making any final decisions on Delaney’s employment with the company. The bus had continued to hit 8 vehicles one after the other, although, none of the injuries appeared to be life threatening, though several victims were taken to the nearest hospitals.
If you or someone you know has been injured in a car accident, be sure to contact an Illinois Car Accident Attorney today. By seeking legal advice, you can see if you are eligible for compensation.