The accident peeled the top off the bus and then crushed the body; it is surprising there were survivors. The accident resulted in most all of the safety features incorporated into modern school bus accidents. Other contributing factors were hydraulic, rather than air, brakes, and a coach pulling the hand-lever-type emergency brake, locking up the drive shaft and preventing the driver from re-engaging the two-speed axle. This was the second of three major school bus accidents in Colorado in my lifetime. I learned to drive a school bus shortly after this accident.
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Source Agency: National Technical Information Service 5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161 USA Abstract: THE REPORT DOCUMENTS THE ACTIVITIES AND FINDINGS WITH RESPECT TO A SCHOOL BUS ACCIDENT THAT OCCURRED ON MONARCH PASS IN THE TOWN OF GARFIELD, COLORADO. THE DRIVER LOST CONTROL OF VEHICLE SPEED WHILE DESCENDING AN APPROXIMATELY 11 MILE SECTION OF DOWNGRADE. HE UNSUCCESSFULLY ATTEMPTED TO DOWNSHIFT THE REAR AXLE AND TRANSMISSION, AND LEFT THE HIGHWAY IN ORDER TO AVOID A COLLISION WITH TRAFFIC. THE BUS ROLLED OVER 2-1/2 TIMES. NINE FATALITIES OCCURRED AS A RESULT OF THIS ACCIDENT.