Just days after a tour bus crash killed 13 people near Palm Springs, two lawsuits have already been filed for wrongful death
The families of two of the victims, 63-year-old Gustavo Garcia and 50-year-old Tony Mia, are claiming against the bus company USA Holiday and the estate of owner driver Teodulo Elias Vides, who also died in the crash.
The bus slammed into the back of a slow moving truck at high speed on Interstate 10.
The lawsuit cites negligence on the part of the bus operator and driver.
It said it ‘failed to travel at a safe rate of speed, failing to reduce speed (near) a construction zone, and failing to apply the brakes when coming upon a parked or disabled vehicle.’
The lawsuit also claims lax safety procedures as a post crash inspection found its worn tires would have failed a safety inspection.
National Transportation Safety Board inspectors are still investigating the cause of the accident and a final report will likely take several months.
