CHESTERFIELD COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Virginia State Police confirmed today the driver of the Abbott Trailways bus was speeding when he overturned.
That is no surprise to Chris Lang.
“That bus passed me maybe a minute before it crashed,” explains Lang, “And it was going way too fast. There’s no doubt about that.”
Lang says on Sunday night he was traveling southbound in the Powhite EZ Pass lanes when the bus blew right by him.
The speed limit there is 45 miles per hour. Lang believes the bus was going at least 60.
“I just thought he was going a bit too fast and to pass somebody on the right like that in that big of a vehicle is kind of dangerous, ” says Lang.
After the crash, police ticketed the bus driver, 58-year-old Thomas Chidester, for reckless driving.
According to the government agency that oversees charter bus lines, Abbott Trailways buses have been involved in six crashes in the past two years.
Back in May, a bus carrying members of the Carolina Mudcats minor league baseball team ran off the road and flipped in a ditch. No one was seriously hurt but that driver was also ticketed for reckless driving.
Records on the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration website show that Abbott has a satisfactory safety rating, the highest rating a company can get.
Image may be NSFW.
Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
Image may be NSFW.Clik here to view.
