How on earth did this happen ?

[Richard]

http://news.uk.msn.com/28-die-in-alpine ... -bus-crash

No words can describe what those parents must be going through.

[ellenyoung31]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZjQIjhoeci8
Hello Richard.
Like you I think it is awful. I thought
there was one in France on the 12th feb 2012 .
I am sorry for the relations. Ellen.

[Richard]

Hi Ellen:
Tragic. There seems to be quite a few of these "fatal school trip" accidents, going back over the years for
as long as I can remember. I don't have any statistics to show how often but it seems as if we are just
managing to forget about the previous one, when another takes place.
The article states that no other vehicle was involved and that the bus was almost new.
Unless someone can think of another reason, that only leaves driver error or something mechanically
wrong with the bus, (due to the manufacturing/assembly process), ?
I have never driven in that part of the world, therefore, I do not know what those roads are like.
They may be notoriously bad ? They could have been a factor ?
I suppose the truth will out once all the investigations are complete.
My thoughts are with the families.

[VivAyrshire]

I think i heard on radio two earlier that a bit of the wall had been jutting out? but why did nobody notice this. it is horrendous

[Richard]

Beyond words, Viv.

[hahaya2004]

The wall wasn't sticking out, Viv. There are "parking bays" which may make it seem as if the wall sticks out. The bus hit the kerb and then drove head-on into the wall. It happened on a straight part of the tunnel, no other vehicles were involved. There are some photos at this link, if you feel up to it. You can see the tunnel is well-lit.

http://www.faz.net/aktuell/gesellschaft ... 84215.html

[Richard]

Nice clear pictures in the link, Irene.
Makes me think, even more, that it was down to driver error (possibly distraction or a lack of concentration? )
OR mechanical failure (possibly something to do with the steering? ).
But, as I said, all will be revealed once the investigations have been complete.
Good link

[VivAyrshire]

Get ready for THIS one, richard. reports are coming in via jeremy vine on twitter that the driver may have been changing a DVD. UNBELIEVABLE. www.twitter.com/thejeremyvine

[Richard]

Jeeeeezo, that's not the kind of distraction I was thinking.
I was thinking more along the lines of chatting away to his colleague/relief driver ?
If those reports are found to be true then I suppose it makes it seem all the more
tragic, if that's possible, as he was probably putting the DVD on for the kid's ?
Who are they getting this information from ? Someone who survived ?