Utah bus operation, driver declared imminent hazard

The Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA) declared Sandy, Utah-based passenger carrier Serv-A-Bus LLC to be an imminent hazard to public safety and has ordered the company and its owner to immediately cease all interstate and intrastate passenger transportation operations.

FMCSA investigators found that Serv-A-Bus, as recently as last month, continued to transport passengers, primarily students, despite a January 2013 cease operations order and revocation of its U.S. Department of Transportation registration after receiving an unsatisfactory safety rating by federal regulators.

FMCSA’s imminent hazard out-of-service order for Serv-A-Bus and its owner is based upon their widespread disregard of federal safety regulations, the safety of passengers and of the motoring public.

To view a copy of the imminent hazard out-of-service order, click here.

The FMCSA also declared Connecticut-licensed motorcoach driver Terence W. Slowther to be an imminent hazard to public safety and has ordered him not to operate any commercial motor vehicle in interstate commerce.

On Feb. 9, 2014, Slowther, a commercial driver's license (CDL) holder, was operating a commercial bus transporting a U.S. Coast Guard Academy men's hockey team when he experienced a medical episode on Interstate 95 in Connecticut. When the vehicle started swerving erratically at a high rate of speed, a number of the cadet passengers removed Slowther from the driver's seat and regained control of the vehicle, bringing it safely to a stop.

A subsequent investigation by FMCSA and Conn. officials revealed that on Dec. 27, 2013, Slowther failed to disclose prior episodes of dizziness and fainting occurring between 2010 and 2012 to his medical examiner as required during his CDL medical qualification examination.

FMCSA's imminent hazard out-of-service order for Slowther is based upon his disregard of federal safety regulations, the safety of his passengers and of the motoring public.

To view a copy of the imminent hazard out-of-service order, click here.