NTSB investigating Ore. coach crash

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is sending investigators to yesterday's fatal motorcoach accident in Oregon.

As part of this investigation, the NTSB will be looking at issues related to why the motorcoach left the roadway, the condition of the roadway, the highway barrier and the operations of the motor carrier. Bus safety is on the NTSB's 2013 Most Wanted List.

About 10:30 a.m. PST on Dec. 30, a 1998 Prevost motorcoach, operated by British Columbia-based Mi Joo Tour & Travel, was traveling westbound on Interstate 84, near Pendleton, in Umatilla County, Ore. The motorcoach, which was en route from Las Vegas, to Vancouver, British Columbia, was carrying about 40 passengers. When the motorcoach was in the vicinity of mile marker 227 it departed the roadway, went down an embankment, rolled over at least once, and came to rest upright at the bottom of the slope. As a result of the crash nine of the vehicle's occupants received fatal injuries. The driver and an additional 26 passengers were transported to area hospitals for treatment of their injuries.

Pete Kotowski will serve as the Investigator-in-Charge.


For reporting from the AP and ABC News, click here.