A school bus driver was killed and at least two students were reportedly injured in a single-vehicle crash on State Road 111 near La Madera. According to New Mexico State Police Sergeant Emmanuel Gutierrez, the 69-year-old driver lost control of a Mesa Vista Consolidated School District bus carrying nine children, drove nearly 100 feet down an embankment, and crashed into a number of trees while transporting the elementary, middle, and high school students to class.
Gutierrez stated the bus driver was unfortunately deceased when emergency responders arrived at the accident scene. In addition, each child who was riding on the bus was transported to an area hospital following the fatal accident. Two students allegedly underwent surgery at the University of New Mexico Hospital in Albuquerque. A 16-year-old was purportedly treated for a shattered jaw and another child underwent surgery for a broken femur.
An accident reconstruction team from the New Mexico State Police is currently investigating the deadly traffic wreck. At this time, it is unclear what caused the driver of the bus to lose control. Authorities are reportedly investigating whether the 69-year-old man may have suffered a medical emergency immediately prior to the Rio Arriba County crash.
Thankfully, it appears that none of the children involved in this accident were permanently disabled or killed. Because most school buses do not have safety belts installed, children may be tragically hurt in any school bus collision. According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, an average of 19 students are killed in a school bus or other school transportation-related collision every year in the United States.
Unfortunately, children and other individuals who travel on New Mexico roadways may be injured or die as a result of the actions of a negligent driver. The victims of a New Mexico motor vehicle crash may be entitled to receive damages for their medical expenses, lost wages and benefits, pain and suffering, and any disability that resulted from the accident. The close family members of someone who was killed by a negligent driver may also be able to recover financial compensation for their loved one’s funeral expenses and other damages. A skilled New Mexico personal injury lawyer can describe your options for recovery in more detail.
At the Fine Law Firm, our caring Rio Arriba County personal injury attorneys are available to help you recover the damages you deserve following a serious injury in New Mexico. The Fine Law Firm represents people who were injured in an unexpected school bus or other traffic wreck throughout the State of New Mexico. Our hardworking lawyers have more than 100 years of combined experience helping clients who were hurt through no fault of their own on New Mexico roadways. To schedule a free initial consultation with a knowledgeable advocate, do not hesitate to call the Fine Law Firm today at (505) 889-3463 or contact us through the law firm’s website.
More Blog Posts:
Santa Fe Jury Awards Record $58 Million in Wrongful Death Lawsuit Against Trucking Company, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, March 25, 2013
Family injured in One-Vehicle Rollover Crash on I-40 Near Albuquerque, New Mexico Personal Injury Lawyer Blog, March 21, 2013
Additional Resources:
Driver dies in school bus crash in NM, by Tanya Mendis, koat.com