vandy
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Bus crash near Santiago
Two Aguila buses collided head-on between Santiago and Miraflores yesterday (Friday, Oct 24).
7 killed, 15 injured.
Among those killed was a 51-year-old American woman from Texas.
My heart goes out to all of them
Drive carefully out there
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Dave
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How does that happen, exactly?
| Quote: | Originally posted by vandy
Two Aguila buses collided head-on
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I could understand two trains...But buses? 
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DianaT
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
| Quote: | Originally posted by vandy
Two Aguila buses collided head-on
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I could understand two trains...But buses? |
Sad, very sad.
Perhaps one of the drivers fell asleep. We have been on many buses all over Mexico and have experienced very sleepy drivers especially on long trips.
The worst was traveling down the Devilīs Backbone from Durango to Matzalan and one driver was asleep in the front seat, and the one driving kept
dozing off---he used the little fan, the window and smoked a lot to stay awake enough to get down the mountains----
My thoughts are with the families.
Diane
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gnukid
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| Quote: | Originally posted by vandy
Two Aguila buses collided head-on between Santiago and Miraflores yesterday (Friday, Oct 24).
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I am very sorry for victims and families.
The area from La Cuerva to el Aeropuerto has a few curves, many low rises and small vados where people drive exceptionally fast and others quite slow
which pressures some people to pass, often over blind rises.
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Dave
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So much for redundancy
| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
one driver was asleep in the front seat, and the one driving kept dozing off |
Maybe they need to rethink the backup driver thing. 
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Kell-Baja
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Oh my goodness. Prayers to the victims and their families.
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vandy
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The buses met at the top of a hill on a curve just south of K78 between Santiago and Miraflores.
Cristine Ruth Morris, 52, of Texas was among those killed. I'm really sorry if her friends/family find out this way, as I don't think they notify
next of kin down here before publishing victims' names.
Both bus drivers, one 22 years old, and the other, "25-30" years old, were killed.
The death toll now stands at 9.
[Edited on 10-27-2008 by vandy]
[Edited on 10-27-2008 by vandy]
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Mango
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My thoughts and prayers are with Cristine, the others killed and injured, their families, and their friends.
This is unfortunate and very sad.
| Quote: | Originally posted by Dave
| Quote: | Originally posted by jdtrotter
one driver was asleep in the front seat, and the one driving kept dozing off |
Maybe they need to rethink the backup driver thing.
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I've been on many long bus trips throughout Mexico and I've often seen three drivers on one bus during the longer trips. (22 hours, etc) One driving,
one co-pilot, and one guy sleeping in a berth down below in front of the luggage compartment.
This all varies per bus line and route; but, I'd rather trust my life in the hands of a professional than anyone else. I've traveled 10's of
thousands of miles by bus in Mexico and the only ones that really scared me were the local-route bus drivers in DF.
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Don Alley
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| Quote: | Originally posted by Mango
I've traveled 10's of thousands of miles by bus in Mexico and the only ones that really scared me were the local-route bus drivers in DF.
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Paula and I are afraid of the buses on hwy 1 and try to stay clear of them. They often drive too fast and too recklessly.
This is from a church on hwy 1:
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Mango
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It's a good idea to steer clear of the buses. They are big, take up a lot of space, and don't stop or turn nearly as well as smaller vehicles.
People in cars often forget that the rest of the world has different space and handling requirements.
The one comforting fact to remember is that the job of a long distance bus driver is a good job in Mexico. These drivers are professionals and want
to get home to their families just like you do. If they crash or scrape up their bus they will be out of a good job and have a hard time getting
hired elsewhere.
I do agree that some local city bus drivers, second class bus drivers, and taxi drivers are nuts. The first class buses are usually geared so they
will not exceed 60mph or so.
Believe me.. I've been on a few harrowing bus rides.. but Hwy 1 is a breeze compared to a few roads I've been down in Mexico. There is one - crazy;
but, darn good - bus driver that drives the dirt roads in the mountains of Puebla State that I am positive that would win the Baja 1000 easily... with
his bus.
Hwy 1 is a unique road.. it's danger lies mostly not in the condition of the road itself.. but the lack of traffic that lulls you into going too fast
for conditions. This is common on many desert roads IMO.
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oldjack
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I travel this particular section of the HWY once a month going from the airport to Los Barriles and then back ... I always picked up locals waiting
for the bus... trying to save them a few pesos... even if it only to Los Barriles and they are going to La Paz it saves them money... it is sad to
think of the nice people I have met may have come to a bad ending....
the second picture shows some tire marks that look like the bus maybe left the road and tried to get back on.. and over-corrected??? it doesn't matter
the result was the same.... just don't think someone was asleep... you wouldn't get a kilometer in that area without a problem...
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ArroyoTaxi
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This breaks my heart - My condolences to every family and loved one affected by this tragedy. I drive the East Cape - Cabo road so often and I drive
with extreme defensiveness. I even say little prayers when I get dangerously passed by the folks "rushing" to nowhere. My favorite was being passed
by 2 teenagers in a beater, blind curve, with a horse, untied, standing in the cab of their pick up. It rarely ends well. It will not change in our
lifetime. count the shrines.
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