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UMA to Participate in NTSB Hearing Investigating Motorcoach Fire

AUGUST 8TH - 9TH, 8:30 AM - 5:00 PM

The hearing will be webcast on the NTSB website, www.ntsb.gov.

The National Transportation Safety Board will hold a 2-day public hearing as part of its ongoing investigation into the cause of a bus fire accident that occurred during the evacuation for Hurricane Rita last year. Member Kitty Higgins has been appointed as Chairwoman of the hearing. "Last September, 23 frail, elderly nursing home residents perished when the bus taking them out of harm's way caught fire," said Member Higgins. "We can't change what happened, but we will find out what caused this tragic loss of life."

On September 23, 2005, 44 Passengers from the Sunrise Nursing Home in Bellaire, Texas, were traveling northbound on Interstate 45 in a 1998 MCI 54-passenger motorcoach operated by Global Limousine, Inc., based in Pharr, Texas. The charter was part of an emergency evacuation ordered by the Governor of Texas in anticipation of Hurricane Rita. Firefighters and nursing staff were required to assist in passenger boarding because many of the residents were mobility impaired. Tragically, the coach caught fire after 15 hours en route. Twenty-three of the passengers died.

The NTSB investigation will examine several issues during the hearing. Topics will include the scope of the bus fire problem, the source of the Wilmer motorcoach fire, fire propagation and fire detection and suppression, planning for and transporting people with special needs, motorcoach evacuations, government oversight of motor carriers, vehicle inspections, and driver training.

Questioning the witnesses will be the Board of Inquiry, chaired by Member Higgins, a technical panel of NTSB investigators, and representatives of the parties including United Motorcoach Association representative Ken Presley

The NTSB will use information from the hearing to prepare a final report on the accident, including safety recommendations aimed at preventing similar accidents in the future.