No mechanical defects found on Greyhound bus that crashed in San Jose

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ByDavid Louie KGO logo
Friday, January 22, 2016
No mechanical defects found on Greyhound bus that crashed in SJ
NTSB officials said no mechanical defects were found during their investigation in the Greyhound bus that crashed in South San Jose, killing two people early Tuesday morning.

SAN JOSE, Calif. (KGO) -- NTSB officials said no mechanical defects were found during their investigation in the Greyhound bus that crashed in South San Jose, killing two people early Tuesday morning.

Two women died and 10 people had to be taken to the hospital after the Greyhound bus crashed between Highway 101 and the northbound Highway 85 interchange.

WATCH VIDEO: Man talks about losing mother in Greyhound bus crash

Two days into their investigation, NTSB and the CHP officials determined the Greyhound bus that crashed was not due to any mechanical failure.

The wreckage is being examined at a Caltrans yard where laser imaging will be used. Investigators are preparing to create a 3D laser image of the entire Greyhound bus inside and out that will allow them to recreate the fatal crash.

Officials are also waiting to see what the on-board camera will show. They are hopeful it will document the moments leading up to the collision, but retrieving that video is taking time. "We are attempting to get it and that's part of the thing, with the technicians to insure we don't damage that by retrieving it improperly," CHP Hollister-Gilroy Office Capt. Spencer Boyce said.

WATCH VIDEO: Greyhound passenger describes accident

Greyhound said the driver Gary Bonslater, 58, of Victorville is on non-driving status during the investigation. Both he and the company are not talking to reporters.

The lead CHP investigator said he is trying to establish both innocence and guilt. So far, he has not substantiated earlier statements by CHP that the driver told first responders he was fatigued.

Another focus will be these barrels that cushion impact when a vehicle plows into them, as happened Tuesday morning. "This particular crash attenuator and that's a test level that they are tested to for different types of crash criteria, but that will be part of our investigation as we look into all aspects," NTSB lead investigator Jennifer Morrison said.

The NTSB investigator did not know if they can absorb the force of a fast-moving bus.

ABC7 News asked the Greyhound drivers union president if the bus line has a good record of safety training. "So, you can teach people how to make a right turn, a left turn, and keep eyes open and watch the mirrors, but the bottom line is if you create a work environment that's hostile to rest, which is what we have in the whole industry, then it doesn't matter," Amalgamated Transit Union International President Larry Haney said.

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