30 years today since Bus 442's high-speed crash

Started by Buzz Killington, August 23, 2012, 08:43:10 PM

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Buzz Killington

An interesting article today in the Canberra Times (yes, really) marking 30 years to the day since MAN SL200 Bus 442 slammed into a tree on Eastern Valley Way.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/belconnen-bus-crash-survivor-recalls-angel-of-mercy-20120822-24myv.html

More photos of the accident can be seen in our Gallery.


belcodriver

That looks nasty.

Anyone know if there has ever been an accident related fatality onboard an ACTION bus? I know of two incidents where people have died after crashing their cars into ACTION buses - the guy who killed himself by driving into the back of a bus stopped on Launceston St (the stop where Pizza Hut used to be) in early 2004 and the one who went head on into 352/3? near Erindale a few years ago - but I've never heard of anyone who was on an ACTION bus being killed.

Buzz Killington

#2
Only on board fatality I recall is pre-ACTION, where a bus rolled on Cotter Rd in 1926 http://actbus.net/?p=729

This article mentions the incident you recalled, belcodriver http://actbus.net/?p=691

Only other serious incident I recall are 797 and 914 being written off after colliding with trees

Barry Drive

#3
Quote from: Buzz Killington on August 27, 2012, 11:44:06 AM
Only other serious incident I recall are 797 and 914 being written off after colliding with trees


There was 644's collision at the Jolimont Centre which was fairly serious (although it did not result in a write-off) - possible future feature bus article.

And it was 351 which was involved in the Erindale Drive head-on collision.

belcodriver

Quote from: Buzz Killington on August 27, 2012, 11:44:06 AM
This article mentions the incident you recalled, belcodriver http://actbus.net/?p=691

Nope that refers to a pedestrian killed by a bus in 2001. I was thinking of a guy who committed suicide by driving at high speed into the back of a bus. I'm pretty sure it was in early 2004, maybe late 2003.

Simes

#5
Quote from: ACTbusspotter on August 27, 2012, 01:36:16 PM

There was 644's collision at the Jolimont Centre which was fairly serious (although it did not result in a write-off) - possible future feature bus article.

And it was 351 which was involved in the Erindale Drive head-on collision.
hmmm must have been relatively early in it's life, since I read this one went onto be sold to North & Western then to Deanes

With 442, was a cause ever established? By that I mean was the bus over the speed limit?

oldwornoutactiondriver

This accident was caused by the car (a ford) running a red light. The impact with the bus was at the rear axle thereby pushing the rear axle more than a metre sideways, and not moving the front axle thereby setting the bus on a collision course with the tree. This all happened so quickly that the driver did not have time to correct the steering before hitting the tree. The tree was removed shortly after the accident. As far as I know the driver never drove buses after this accident.

I also remember an accident which killed 2 women who were crossing the street as a bus (ZIB 501) was leaving the Woden Interchange, turning right on the green light ,(the pedestrians also had the "walk" signal simultaneously)the driver of 501 turned to wave at another driver who was coming into Woden Interchange and run over the 2 women killing them instantly.I cant remember exactlywhen this happened but it was a long time ago.

smitho

Quote from: belcodriver on August 27, 2012, 11:46:29 PM
Nope that refers to a pedestrian killed by a bus in 2001. I was thinking of a guy who committed suicide by driving at high speed into the back of a bus. I'm pretty sure it was in early 2004, maybe late 2003.
Yeah, I remember that Launceston St fatality, but thought it was longer ago than 2003/04....didn't realise it was a suicide case.