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Megabus Tire Blowout Causes Death and Injures Several Dozen People

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On August 2 around 1:20PM, a sold out double decker bus operated by Megabus was traveling from Chicago to Kansas City, with stops in St. Louis and Columbia, carrying over 70 passengers, when it crashed near Litchfield, Illinois.

A tire on the bus blew out on Southbound Interstate 55 about 55 miles northeast of St. Louis in Southern Illinois. The bus crashed head-on into a concrete bridge support pillar, shutting down the highway in both directions. At least 38 people were injured, and one passenger confirmed dead in the crash. At least 5 passengers were flown by helicopter to a trauma center, with ambulances taking the other injured passengers to nearby hospitals; the injuries range from minor to critical condition.

The uninjured passengers were taken to the nearby Litchfield Community Center. Megabus has helped them reach their final destinations.

Megabus issued a statement saying the bus involved was only a year old and had passed a full preventative maintenance check within the past week, including a tire examination. Authorities say that the most likely cause of the crash is a blown tire, causing the driver to lose control and slam into the concrete column. Investigators say that there have been no reports of erratic driving or anything else along those lines.

Tire blowouts are far too common and can be caused by defective tires. Sometimes tire blowouts cause accidents that lead to catastrophic injuries and even wrongful death. The trial attorneys at The Sumner Law Group have litigated defective product cases and are familiar with the experts necessary to win a tough products case. If you have been injured in a vehicle accident that was caused by a tire failure or tire blowout please contact attorney Brent Sumner and The Sumner Law Group for a free consultation regarding your case.