“Vicksburg Tragedy: 7 Dead, Including 6-Year-Old, in Devastating Charter Bus Crash”
In late August 2024, the Vicksburg Fire Department was called to the scene of a catastrophic accident that left the community in disbelief. A charter bus, carrying 47 passengers, overturned, resulting in the loss of seven lives, including a young 6-year-old boy.
While the tragedy brought immense sorrow, it also raised crucial questions about the events leading up to such a disaster. What exactly caused this heartbreaking incident?
This article explores the details behind the tragic bus crash and the sequence of events that led to the devastating outcome.
“Tragedy Strikes: Charter Bus Overturns in Bovina, Leaving 7 Dead and Many More Injured”
It was a quiet, dark Saturday morning in Mississippi, with the only sound being the hum of passing traffic.
A 2018 Volvo charter bus, carrying 47 passengers, was traveling from Atlanta to Dallas on Interstate 20 near Bovina, in Warren County. The road ahead appeared calm, but within seconds, everything would change.
At approximately 12:30 a.m., the bus suddenly veered off the road, crossed onto an embankment, lost control, and overturned. What had begun as a peaceful journey quickly turned into a devastating disaster.
“Bovina Bus Crash Claims 8 Lives, Leaves 36 Injured in Horrifying Tragedy”
The chaos that unfolded as the bus careened off the road and overturned was beyond imagination.
Several passengers were violently ejected during the crash. Tow truck driver Keith Allison told WAPT that the bus landed in a ditch, with many passengers thrown from the vehicle. ”We had to get the bus stood up to get it where the bodies had come through the windows,” Allison said.
The late-night timing of the crash likely contributed to its devastating impact, as limited visibility and slower response times often occur during such hours.
According to the Mississippi Highway Patrol, six people were confirmed dead at the scene, and another succumbed to injuries at Merit Health River Region. A total of 36 others were rushed to nearby hospitals for treatment.
“Anytime you have people injured or killed, it’s tragic, but when you have a situation like this where you have multiple fatalities and multiple injuries, it makes it even worse,” said Warren County Sheriff Martin Pace in a statement to CNN affiliate WAPT.
“Victims of Bovina Bus Tragedy Identified: 8-Year-Old Boy and Six Others Among the Dead”
The seven victims who tragically lost their lives in the Bovina bus crash were all Mexican nationals.
Magan Gonzalez, a Warren County resident, spoke to Vicksburg News about the aftermath, describing the harrowing scene where several families were aboard the bus. “People were trapped in the bus and trying to get out. One young couple was somehow out and walking around,” Gonzalez recalled.
Among those killed were 8-year-old Kain Gutierrez and his 16-year-old sister, Perla Gutierrez. Also lost in the crash was 16-year-old Angelica Palomino. The other victims included 61-year-old Miguel Ariaga, 63-year-old Elia Guzman, and brothers Victor Aviles Garcia, 32, and Moises Aviles Garcia, 30.
“Investigation Reveals Tire Failure Likely Caused Fatal Bus Crash; Company Behind Bus Identified”
The names of the victims were released by Warren County Coroner Doug L. Huskey, following a preliminary investigation by the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB). The investigation pointed to a tire failure as the likely cause of the crash, which led the motor coach to veer off the road and overturn. Initially, due to a language barrier, 8-year-old Kain Gutierrez was mistakenly identified as 6 years old, but the error was later corrected.
The Volvo bus involved in the fatal crash was operated by “Autobuses Regiomontanos”, a company based in Laredo, Texas. With over 20 years of experience providing cross-border trips between 100 destinations in Mexico and the U.S., Autobuses Regiomontanos has faced scrutiny over the years, including lawsuits, driver fitness violations, and even another fatal crash in 2023.
“NTSB Investigates Tire Failure as Likely Cause of Fatal Bus Crash in Mississippi”
Todd Inman, a member of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), confirmed that a team had been dispatched to Mississippi to investigate the crash, collaborating with the Mississippi Highway Patrol (MHP) and the Mississippi Commercial Transportation Enforcement Division. Inman noted that the NTSB expected to release a preliminary report on the incident within 30 days, with a final report likely taking between 12 to 24 months to complete.
Although the investigation is ongoing, early findings suggest a likely cause. According to the NTSB, the crash was believed to have been triggered by ‘tire failure’, which led to the tragic accident.
It may have been the driver’s reaction that led many to conclude a blown tire was the cause of the crash.
“Driver’s Reaction Suggests Tire Blowout as Cause of Fatal Bus Crash”
The driver’s emotional response to the crash may have been a key factor in authorities’ conclusion that a blown tire was the cause of the accident.
Warren County resident Magan Gonzalez shared insights into the driver’s state following the crash, explaining, “The driver was very upset that he couldn’t control the bus and felt responsible for the accident.” Gonzalez added, “He kept blaming himself and didn’t understand why he wasn’t able to keep the bus on the road after the tire blew out.” This reaction, coupled with the NTSB’s early findings, led many to believe that a tire failure played a significant role in the tragedy.