Two women sent to hospital after charter bus flips their car
The McLaughlin's from Meadowlakes comfort the charter bus driver at the accident scene Saturday.
By Emily Hilley-Sierzchula
Two women, ages 69 and 85, were involved in a car accident Saturday evening, Sept. 20, and one was still hospitalized two days later receiving treatment for injuries received when their SUV was struck by a charter bus traveling on TX 71 near the U.S. 281 intersection.
Both the bus and car were heading eastbound when a witness said the car suddenly veered across the median in front of the bus.
"The bus driver laid on her horn," said witness Jerry McLaughlin, of Meadowlakes. "They were oblivious to the bus. The bus driver did nothing wrong," he said, adding it seemed as if the car’s driver had missed her turn and was attempting a U-turn.
The force of the impact overturned the black Toyota Rav 4, which came to rest on its roof. Two police officers tore the crumpled car door aside to render aid to the driver.
Firefighters used the jaws of life to “pop the door off” the passenger side, said witness Henry Hekker, a firefighter with the East Lake Buchanan Volunteer Fire Department.
The names of the two women were not released yesterday, Sept. 22.
The 85-year-old was transported to Lakeway Regional hospital with “non-emergency status,” said Glenn Hanson, Marble Falls Police Department captain.
The Star Shuttle & Charter bus, which was running a Gray Line tour, had front-end damage, but the as-yet-unidentified driver was its lone occupant, as she had just dropped off all her passengers.
For the full story, see Tuesday's Highlander.
