CHICAGO (AP) A federal agency has issued an emergency bulletin to motorcoach companies about weight limits on tires following investigations into the deadly Megabus accident in Illinois and other crashes involving tire blowouts. One of those blowouts happened earlier this month on I-85 near Lavonia.
The Chicago Tribune reported Thursday that the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration says fully loaded double-decker buses "may overload tires outside the suggested weight limit."
One passenger died in the Megabus crash Aug. 2 near Litchfield in southern Illinois. State Police say a blown tire likely caused the bus to lurch out of control and hit a bridge pillar.
Another Megabus caught fire Aug. 8 after a tire blew out on I-85 near Lavonia. No one was hurt in that incident, but the 80 passengers that were on board had to make a quick exit onto the side of the highway. Traffic was blocked for several hours as a result of the fire and ensuing clean-up.
Authorities say the buses in both cases were heavily loaded and running on very hot days. That can cause stress on tires.
Thursday
November 28th, 2024
2:54PM
