Juan Vasquez-Rodriguez Killed In Illinois Greyhound Bus Accident on I-70

Bus Accident - July 15, 2023

Juan Vasquez-Rodriguez, 34, of Passaic, New Jersey, (Full Name: Juan Ernesto Vasques Rodriguez) Died In Highland Greyhound Bus Accident Along Interstate 70 —> GoFundMe Created To Help Victim’s Family

HIGHLAND, ILLINOIS (July 15, 2023) – A man identified as Juan Vasquez-Rodriguez has tragically died in a southern Illinois Greyhound bus accident on I-70.

Madison County officials are saying that the collision took place around 2:00 p.m. on Wednesday. Juan Vasquez-Rodriguez was one of dozens of passengers in the Greyhound bus traveling from Indianapolis to St. Louis.

The bus driver left the roadway and collided with a parked semi-truck. Photos of the accident site show a major portion of the Greyhound bus completely sheared off.

A portion of the semi-truck involved in the crash caught fire. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene in order to help all of the victims.

Sadly, Juan Vasquez-Rodriguez was listed as one of three people who died in the crash. Another 14 people were injured in the crash including several people who were critically injured.

A GoFundMe has been set up to help the family of Juan Vasquez-Rodriguez transport his body back to Peru.

Liability For Highland Greyhound Bus Accidents

Millions of people are transported each year in buses across the United States. Far too many of these crashes involve serious injury or death. According to the Journal of Safety Research, “while bus accidents comprise a relatively small share of the total accidents (0.6%) in the United States, the number of bus accidents per million passenger miles (3.04) is comparable to the number of car accidents per million driven miles (3.21).” There are a number of factors that could contribute to a bus accident.

• Bus drivers are asked to work at all hours of the night and day. Many collisions are due to bus drivers that were fatigued.
• Buses weigh dozens of times more than passenger vehicles and are therefore much more difficult to stop.
• Buses have a high utilization rate. When a bus is not properly cared for, it’s brakes and other component parts are more likely to fail.

All bus drivers have a legal obligation to utilize the utmost care in order to avoid causing harm to their passengers. Pursuant to Illinois Vehicle Code 625 ILCS 5/11-709 (a), a vehicle shall be driven as nearly as practicable within a single lane and shall not move from that lane unless such a movement can be made with safety. When a bus driver leaves the roadway and collides with a parked vehicle this could form the basis of a negligence claim.

Depending on the facts of any case,  a truck company could be liable for a collision if another vehicle collided with one of their parked trucks. In Illinois, it is illegal for truck drivers to use rest area exit ramps as overnight truck stops. But it still occurs in any case. Part of the problem is that there are not enough rest areas for tired truck drivers who are prohibited from going past their allotted work hours. There are a number of steps that should be taken after any bus accident.

• Eye witnesses should be interviewed.
• Surveillance footage from the bus involved should be reviewed.
• Photos of the accident should be taken.
• A thorough investigation should be conducted.

The vast majority of accidents that involve drivers leaving the roadway are totally avoidable. They tend to nearly always involve human error. In rare situations, mechanical malfunction could contribute to a crash. The family of any person that died in a bus accident may be able to seek some measure of justice through a wrongful death claim. It is important that evidence is properly preserved after any bus accident. Evidence is what will ultimately be needed to demonstrate liability.

Investigating Southern Illinois Greyhound Bus Accidents

We at Horwitz Horwitz & Associates extend our deepest condolences to the family of Juan Vasquez-Rodriguez. This was a preventable tragedy that should not have taken place. Any person that may have more information about what happened should reach out to police. There are so many questions that need to be answered.

Do you need more information about a Greyhound bus accident? Our team of bus safety advocates are here to answer any questions that you may have. We are committed to helping people who have been harmed due to the negligent actions of bus companies. Whether you just have legal questions or need a free, independent investigation into any collision we are here for you. You can reach out to us anytime at (312) 564-4256.