Credit: Boston Fire Department
The man behind wheel of a tour bus that struck a concrete tunnel in Boston is being charged in the accident which left several local high school students hurt, some seriously, Massachusetts State Police announced Tuesday afternoon.
Samuel J. Jackson, 67, of Philadelphia, is charged with a “criminal count of operating negligently to endanger, as well as with civil violations of failing to obey a sign on a Department of Conservation and Recreation roadway and operating a bus on a DCR roadway,” police said in a release. They added the bus was too large for the 10-foot-tall tunnel, which was clearly marked on warning signs.
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The bus, filled with 43 passengers, was headed to the Destined for a Dream Foundation in Bristol Borough after a trip to Harvard University when it struck the concrete tunnel on Soliders Field Road at 7:34 p.m. on Saturday Feb. 3.
An accident investigation state police Collision Analysis and Reconstruction Section and Commercial Vehicle Enforcement Section “determined that Jackson failed to heed warning signs prohibiting buses from that stretch of roadway while he was operating the bus eastbound on Soldiers Field Road,” a release said. Police added they review all available evidence and talked to witnesses to the crash.
Investigators determined the bus, operated by Calvary Coach out of Philadelphia, did not slow as it entered the tunnel. The impact caused heavy damage to the roof on the front portion of the bus and the the frame that held up the roof, police said.
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Students from Bristol, Harry S. Truman, Neshaminy and Pennsbury high schools were aboard the bus at the time of the accident.
Neshaminy High School sophomore and athlete Matt Cruz was the most seriously hurt and spent an extended period of time in the hospital. Sources close to the hospital said last month that Cruz has a long road to recovery ahead of him.
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Jackson has been summoned to appear at the Brighton Division of the Boston Municipal Court, police said.
