A deadly Greyhound bus crash that killed three people in Illinois was preventable, federal investigators say — and it sheds light on a growing crisis that could affect drivers across the country. If you travel the interstates or rely on long-haul shipping, this issue may hit closer to home than you think.
Critical Shortage of Truck Parking Endangers Roads
According to the National Transportation Safety Board, the July 2023 crash near Highland, Illinois, happened partly because of a severe shortage of overnight parking for truckers. The Greyhound bus was traveling westbound on I-70 at 1:48 a.m. when it exited into a rest area and struck three semitrailers parked illegally on the shoulder.
Though such shoulder parking is technically illegal, enforcement is rare due to a lack of safe, legal spaces for the 13 million trucks on American roads.
Board Chair Jennifer Homendy said during Tuesday’s meeting in Washington, “Until we address this important safety issue, lives are at risk on our nation’s roads.”
Greyhound Oversight and Fatigue Under Scrutiny
In addition to the parking issue, investigators found that the bus driver was fatigued and had a troubling driving record that Greyhound failed to adequately address. Records show the driver had four previous crashes — two of them preventable — and was repeatedly flagged by electronic monitoring for speeding.
The NTSB cited “deficient driver oversight by Greyhound” as a contributing factor. The driver and 11 others were injured in the crash, which also killed three passengers when the side of the bus was sheared off.
Greyhound Lines acknowledged cooperation with the investigation but declined further comment due to pending litigation, according to a statement shared via email.
Seatbelt Use Could Have Reduced Injuries, Report Says
The report also emphasized the importance of seatbelt usage on commercial buses. The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration mandated seatbelts for all bus passengers in 2019, and Illinois law requires passengers to wear them.
Many riders in the July crash were not wearing seatbelts, which may have worsened the extent of injuries, the board noted.
Stay Safe and Aware on Long-Distance Trips
This crash underscores a national issue that affects every driver and passenger: road safety depends on safe infrastructure and proper enforcement. Whether you’re behind the wheel or catching a late-night bus, staying informed and buckling up could save your life.
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This article was written by John Deluca. AI was used lightly for grammar and formatting, but the ideas, words, and edits are all mine.
