Survivors of Ore. bus crash prepare to go home
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PENDLETON, Ore. (AP) - Some of the survivors of a fatal bus crash on a rural Oregon highway retrieved their passports and other belongings Tuesday so they can finish their journey to Canada.
At least 14 survivors remained hospitalized in three states after the weekend crash that killed nine and injured 38 others. State police escorted others one by one to collect their property, which was strewn across a hillside as the tour bus careened 200 feet from a partly icy roadway Sunday.
The bus was returning to Vancouver, British Columbia, on the final leg of a nine-day tour of the western United States. The trip was organized by a British Columbia travel agency to carry tourists traveling in small groups. Most of the passengers were Korean.
The Red Cross said some of the survivors were too terrified to get on another bus, so a nearby Ford dealer offered to drive them in smaller passenger vehicles. Some were expected to begin the trip on Wednesday.
"The pieces are kind of getting into place about getting back to normal, and they want to go home," said Mary Naman, a registered nurse from Portland working with the American Red Cross to help survivors.
Red Cross workers are helping about 15 survivors who remain in Pendleton, trying to make them as comfortable as possible while they wait for police to release their belongings and for the logistics of their return trip to be worked out. One local volunteer, who is Korean, planned to make traditional Korean food for them, Naman said.
Many of the survivors did not know each other before the trip but have supported each other and formed a close bond through shared experience, said Sandy Ramirez, a Red Cross psychologist. While they're eager to get home, it will also be tough to separate from the other survivors who understand what they're going through, she said.
State police and National Transportation Safety Board investigators were expected to finish an inspection of the bus Tuesday.
Oregon State Police identified one of the nine victims as a 57-year-old Washington man. Authorities said Dale William Osborn of Spanaway was killed in the Sunday crash and his wife, Sue Osborn, remained hospitalized in Pendleton, about 200 miles east of Portland.
His daughter, Jennifer Sherman of Colorado Springs, said she was told her father was hit in the head by a rock while her mother was thrown into a river bed. She last spoke to her father two weeks ago.
"He was very happy," Sherman said. "He's a very good man."
Authorities have not yet released the names of the other eight people who died, but police said the four men and four women were of Asian descent and one female victim may be a juvenile.
Two families are expected to arrive from South Korea later this week, said Vice Consul Chul Ho Choi, who came to Pendleton from Seattle to help authorities translate, identify victims and notify relatives. Relatives of all victims have now been notified, he said.
Chris Huxoll, sales manager at Legacy Ford in La Grande, Ore., said the dealership will probably use new sport-utility vehicles with four-wheel drive to be sure survivors can safely make the 420-mile trip to Vancouver.
"We are extremely sensitive to the fact that these kids and adults don't want to get on a bus," said Casey White-Zollman, a volunteer spokeswoman for the Red Cross.
Police said Monday they still weren't sure how fast the bus was travelling before the crash.
It could take a month or more to determine whether the driver, a 54-year-old man from Vancouver was at fault and whether he'll face charges, Oregon State Police Lt. Gregg Hastings said.
The bus was traveling westbound in the left lane of Interstate 84 when it hit a concrete barrier, veered across both westbound lanes and plunged through the guardrail and 200 feet down the embankment, Hastings said. The NTSB said the bus rolled at least once.
The interstate links Boise, Idaho, and Portland, Ore., through the Blue Mountains and the Columbia River Gorge.
At least 14 survivors remained hospitalized in three states after the weekend crash that killed nine and injured 38 others. State police escorted others one by one to collect their property, which was strewn across a hillside as the tour bus careened 200 feet from a partly icy roadway Sunday.
The bus was returning to Vancouver, British Columbia, on the final leg of a nine-day tour of the western United States. The trip was organized by a British Columbia travel agency to carry tourists traveling in small groups. Most of the passengers were Korean.
The Red Cross said some of the survivors were too terrified to get on another bus, so a nearby Ford dealer offered to drive them in smaller passenger vehicles. Some were expected to begin the trip on Wednesday.
"The pieces are kind of getting into place about getting back to normal, and they want to go home," said Mary Naman, a registered nurse from Portland working with the American Red Cross to help survivors.
Red Cross workers are helping about 15 survivors who remain in Pendleton, trying to make them as comfortable as possible while they wait for police to release their belongings and for the logistics of their return trip to be worked out. One local volunteer, who is Korean, planned to make traditional Korean food for them, Naman said.
Many of the survivors did not know each other before the trip but have supported each other and formed a close bond through shared experience, said Sandy Ramirez, a Red Cross psychologist. While they're eager to get home, it will also be tough to separate from the other survivors who understand what they're going through, she said.
State police and National Transportation Safety Board investigators were expected to finish an inspection of the bus Tuesday.
Oregon State Police identified one of the nine victims as a 57-year-old Washington man. Authorities said Dale William Osborn of Spanaway was killed in the Sunday crash and his wife, Sue Osborn, remained hospitalized in Pendleton, about 200 miles east of Portland.
His daughter, Jennifer Sherman of Colorado Springs, said she was told her father was hit in the head by a rock while her mother was thrown into a river bed. She last spoke to her father two weeks ago.
"He was very happy," Sherman said. "He's a very good man."
Authorities have not yet released the names of the other eight people who died, but police said the four men and four women were of Asian descent and one female victim may be a juvenile.
Two families are expected to arrive from South Korea later this week, said Vice Consul Chul Ho Choi, who came to Pendleton from Seattle to help authorities translate, identify victims and notify relatives. Relatives of all victims have now been notified, he said.
Chris Huxoll, sales manager at Legacy Ford in La Grande, Ore., said the dealership will probably use new sport-utility vehicles with four-wheel drive to be sure survivors can safely make the 420-mile trip to Vancouver.
"We are extremely sensitive to the fact that these kids and adults don't want to get on a bus," said Casey White-Zollman, a volunteer spokeswoman for the Red Cross.
Police said Monday they still weren't sure how fast the bus was travelling before the crash.
It could take a month or more to determine whether the driver, a 54-year-old man from Vancouver was at fault and whether he'll face charges, Oregon State Police Lt. Gregg Hastings said.
The bus was traveling westbound in the left lane of Interstate 84 when it hit a concrete barrier, veered across both westbound lanes and plunged through the guardrail and 200 feet down the embankment, Hastings said. The NTSB said the bus rolled at least once.
The interstate links Boise, Idaho, and Portland, Ore., through the Blue Mountains and the Columbia River Gorge.
Hi, i've been following this bus crash since it happened. I'm a trucker and i have been in the same driving conditions as the bus was then. ICE is DEADLY, it cares not what tires you ride on or how many wheels are powered, studs and chains the only exceptions and studs are debateable on a bus.
You know where i am going with this - the Driver. was the driver an experienced, seasoned veteran with years behind the wheel, or relatively new to the heavy bus passenger service? As of yet, no reports from the media concerning the Drivers qualifications and abilities.
Almost two weeks ago, i was returning from a truck run through Spokane on I-90, the winter storm was howling and the road was BLACK-ICED. Numerous cars and semi-trucks were EQUALLY sliding off the road there. I slowed my speed to about 15-20 MPH and carefully made way past the run-offs, eventually finding the roadway in better condition at about Moses Lake, where i could again resume a higher road speed.
This was mostly straight and level roadway , unlike the grade where the charter bus crashed.
So, the theory of ICE Plus SPEED plus GRAVITY equals CRASH seems to be the factor here.
What else can be said? Learn to recognise ICE conditions and slow down, it's that easy.
The question I have is were the tires on the bus winter rated? Many bus operators run summer tires all the time because they last longer and get better mileage but are useless in winter conditions.
It's time for seat belts in buses.
 @SEATTLITERON It's time to ban buses, don't you think?  I mean, this one killed 9.  Ban high-capacity buses now!  There is no need for them!
 @SEATTLITERON It's time for better guardrails.
 @tlws  @SEATTLITERON When you invent a guard rail that can safely stop a 20 plus ton bus traveling at freeway speeds let me know. I'll help you patent it.
 @tlws  @SEATTLITERON Neither will help.  Speed just too fast for conditions or an inexperienced driver. The trucking companies insurance company will try to blame it on the weather, the passengers attorneys will try and blame the company and the driver. Everyone will settle for a few bucks and life goes on.