School Bus Transportation News at STN Media

News Developments

S. 717 IS, Passenger Van Safety Act of 2003 introduced by Sen. Olmpia Snow (D-ME) (March 26, 2003): Sen. Snowe introduces bill that would impose new rollover preventional requirements, and other safety initiatives for 15-passenger vans.

HR 1641, Passenger Van Safety Act of 2003 introduced by Rep. Mark Udall (D-CO) (March 26,2003): Congressman Mark Udall introduced bill that wouldincrease safety testing ro 15-passenger vans and close a loophole in a 30-year old law that allows schools to purchase used vans to transport students.
(April 9, 2003) Rep. Udall's statement accompanying introduction of HR1641.
(May 14, 2003) Rep. Udall praises GM's decision to offer vehicle stability enhancement system in 15-passenger vans.

Ford settles suit in fatal E350 van crash, (February 22, 2003) -- Ford Motor Co. agreed to an out-of-court settlement in a case in which it was accused of hiding evidence regarding the safety of its 15-passenger vans. The suit stems from a 1996 rollover in which two passengers were killed and 13 others injured. The federal judge overseeing the case said that Ford's conduct "almost borders on criminal."

Out of Court Settlement Reached in Van Rollover Case
WICHITA FALLS, Texas (Oct. 23, 2002) -- Victims in a 15-passenger van rollover lawsuit reached a settlement Tuesday with DaimlerChrysler and Michelin. The amount and terms of the settlement were not disclosed.

(October 22, 2002) Michelin Settles Van/Tire Case Rather Than Disclose Evidence Michelin today decided to settle a lawsuit involving Chrysler's rollover-prone 15-passenger van rather than face the possibility that critical documents related to the safety of the company's tires would be disclosed during the trial, according to a press release by the public interest consumer group. Action follows motion to bar the public from courtroom and a gag order on jurrors..

Michelin Should Not Be Permitted to Seal Courtroom and Documents for 15-Passenger Van Trial, Consumer Groups Tell Court, Oct. 18, 2002, In a brief being filed with the District Court of Wichita County, 78th Judicial District, public interest groups sought to intervene to block request by Michelin Tire to block public access to the trial. Michelin is seeking to close the courtroom during certain portions of the trial, prohibit jurors from taking notes and seal a variety of documents. Case involves van rollover that killed four and injured seven women on a church outing when a tire blew.

(September 4, 2002) Rollover 60 Minutes II broadcast a report about two insurers that have abandoned coverage of 15-passenger vans. Report contains extensive explanation of rollover propensity of large vans, several accidents, pending lawsuits, rollover tests and more.

(August 29, 2002) Big vans being sold, converted 15-passenger vehicles' safety in question Newspaper article examines effort by some owners of 15-passenger vans to get rid of the vehicles.

(August 21, 2002) Lawsuit Against DaimlerChrysler and Michelin Is First U.S. Case Involving 15-Passenger Vans to Go to Trial. A lawsuit involving the fatal rollover crash of a 15-passenger church van in Wichita County will be the first case of its kind to go to court when the jury trial convenes here in the 78th District Court on October 21st. The lawsuit names DaimlerChrysler Corporation, et al, and the manufacturers and sellers of Michelin tires as Defendants in connection with the deaths of four persons and the serious, permanent injury of eight others as a result of the May 8, 2001, crash of a van. (Editor's note: Case was settled out of court, see Oct.22 article above)

(June, 2002) Traveling Down the Safer Road
Church & Worship Technology -- Magazine for church administrators cautions against the use of 15-passenger vans to transport parishioners. Says, "Newly released safety information makes it impossible to imagine that these vehicles offer the best transportation solution." [pdf File]

(April 17, 2002) CBS' Sixty Minutes II names the 15-passenger van as "one of the most dangerous vehicles on the road in terms of rollover." CBS offers a computer simulation of the Prairie View A&M van accident. Reported by Scott Pelly.

4 day care kids, driver die as van slams I-240 barrier The Commercial Appeal, April 4, 2002 Four children and the driver were killed in Memphis on April 4, 2002 when the 15-passenger, Ford E-350 non-conforming van they were riding in skidded off the road and the concrete support of a highway overpass.
Police say marijuana found on driver of day care van in fatal crash
The Commercial Appeal, April 5, 2002
Substance found in pocket of driver who crashed day-care van in Memphis
The Commercial Appeal, April 4, 2002 A bag of what appears to be 2 oz. of marijuana was found in the right pants pocket of van driver Wesley Hudson who crashed on Interstate 240, killing himself and four children.
Safety board, opposed to childcare vans, adds case to inquiry
The Commercial Appeal, April 5, 2002
Check day care workers, state reminds The Commercial Appeal, April 6, 2002, "The state has cautioned almost 3,800 state licensed child care programs to make sure criminal background checks have been conducted and documented for workers hired after Jan. 15, 2001."

Valley Christian student killed in van crash The (Montana) Missoulian, March 24, 2002 16-year-old killed enroute to track meet after van drifts off road, hits tree.
Valley Christian coach cited in fatal accident
The (Montana) Missoulian, April 4, 2002

Frisco schools tighten rules, plan to sell vans The Denver Post, 1/25/02
Udall wants van-sale 'loophole' closed, The Denver Post, July 20, 2001
More Fines Urged in Illegal Van Sales The Denver Post, July 18, 2001
Feds had warned of rollover danger, The Denver Post, July 11, 2001
Crash Kills Four, The Denver Post, July 10, 2001

"Carrying a Load of Risk," Los Angeles Times, June 17, 2001: This 50-column-inch article in the Sunday L.A. Times takes a balanced look at the dangers of rollover crashes involving 15-passenger vans. It cites several recent van accidents nationwide in which nearly a score of individuals were killed.

The article notes that between "1994 to 1999, 279 people perished and hundreds were hurt in single-vehicle rollovers of 15-passenger vans" according to NHTSA's FARS Database. The article explains that the Department of Health and Human Services ordered Head Start agencies nationwide to phase out the vans in favor of vehicles that meet federal school bus construction standards.

The article does not deal with vans in school transportation service but instead notes that vans are the workhorse of numerous corporate vanpool programs nationwide.

It also cites the recent NHTSA study cautioning consumers about the stability of Ford's 15-passenger vans. Daimler/Chrysler and GM come in for their lumps too, though spokespeople for the auto manufactures deny the vehicles are unsafe. The article cites the stability factor or resistance to rollover, of several popular vans. The article reports three pending lawsuits against Ford stemming from a 1999 accident that claimed seven lives. it concludes by giving several precautions motorists should take to reduce the risk of riding in these passenger vans.

Packed vans have higher risk of rollover by Jessie Halliday
USA Today, April 9, 2001

Schools hop on the minibus Van-safety concerns spur move despite cost, Denver Post, Jan. 21, 2000

Students ride at risk despite van concerns Denver Post, Jan. 20, 2000

Vanquishing the vans Cincinnati Post, Aug. 23, 2000

MSNBC Investigates Van Use: NBC Dateline investigation of use of vans in school transportation service in this segment titled, "Are school vans as safe as buses?"

How Safe is their School Bus? David Rueben of Parenting Magazine discusses school bus safety, the seat belt issue and the van threat.

Arkansas rollover mirrors one here, Passengers ejected, killed
in both, Wichita Falls Times Record News Online, May 16, 2001

Texas church van accident kills four
Associated Press / Nando Times, May 8, 2001

'This Tragedy Happened Because of Greed, Farm Workers: UFW's founder spoke to the same issues 25 years ago as were raised by a recent van accident that killed 13. Commentary by Cesar Chavez, The Los Angeles Times, Aug 27, 1999 (Webmaster note: enter "recent van crashes" in Search)

Farm labor vans no longer can use side-facing wooden benches
The Commercial Appeal, April 1, 2002 "It was a foggy August day when 13 farmworkers riding in a labor van on wooden benches were hurled for- ward to their deaths after the vehicle struck a tractor-trailer rig. The grisly accident near Five Points (California) in 1999 prompted lawmakers to re-quire farm labor vans have seat belts for all passengers."