“An Accident that Didn’t Have to Happen”
Scene of the crash: I-75 in Atlanta, March 2, 2007.
“An accident that didn’t have to happen.” That’s how Chairman Mark Rosenker of the National Transportation Safety Board described the March 2, 2007 bus crash that killed seven people and injured 28 on an Atlanta interstate.
Today, the NTSB issued its final report on the incident. That report cites three major factors as probable causes of the fatal crash: insufficient road signs, driver error and inadequate passenger protection systems on board the bus.
NTSB investigators said Georgia highway officials changed the layout of signs on an I-75 exit ramp after construction crews had trouble mounting them. They said the changes deviated from federal placement guidelines, but not enough to amount to a violation of federal regulations, which allow for some variation.
“This accident demonstrates the need for clear and consistent highway signage and traffic devices across the U.S. interstate system,” Rosenker said.
NTSB investigators believe the bus driver mistook this I-75 exit ramp for an HOV through lane. The bus crashed through the wall at the far end of the ramp and fell onto the interstate below.
Investigators said the bus driver, 65-year-old Jerome Niemeyer, was partially at fault for failing to slow down as he went up the ramp, despite two signs notifying drivers of a stop ahead. Authorities believe Niemeyer thought he was still driving in a high occupancy vehicle (HOV) through lane instead of an HOV-only left exit ramp.
At highway speed, the bus passed a stop sign at the top of the ramp, crashed through a wall on the other side of the overpass (Northside Drive) and fell 19 feet onto the interstate below.
The crash killed the driver, his wife and five members of Ohio’s Bluffton University baseball team. Click on the video below to watch one of my earlier reports from March 9, 2007.
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Some of the victims’ parents appeared before the NTSB this morning to call for increased regulation of bus construction, driver training and mandatory seat belts. The NTSB has made similar recommendations over the past 40 years, following a head-on collision involving a Greyhound bus that killed 19 passengers near Baker, California in 1968.
But the bus industry has lobbied against such regulation, claiming it would impose prohibitive costs on one of the nation’s safest forms of transportation.
Jonathan Serrie is an Atlanta-based correspondent for FNC. He was
stationed in Macedonia during Operation Allied Force and in Uzbekistan
during Operation Enduring Freedom. 
I remember hearing about this, it was such a horrific tragedy. I am glad tougher laws are being put into place so an incident like this will never happen again. I think that all newest school bus should be built with madatory seat belts. Because anybody riding in those can get bounced around like dolls.
I agree there are not enough signs marking interstate 75 as you go thru Atlanta, It was much better several years ago.
I was raised in that area of Georgia and can understand how this could have happened! In earlier years it was just fine but as the traffic has increased to horrific usage, it is hard to look up and all of a sudden you realize you have missed your off ramp! Of course, most people re-act by slamming on their brakes and therefore a pile-up! The off-ramps are very often so fast and such a small circle off the ramp that the person cannot handle the car. Even if they are driving the speed limit! I have no idea what the answer would be but more Enigneers, Road Builders, and Planners have the job of getting their heads together and come up with an answer! Everytime we visit over there it is horrific to even get on the Freeway! We still know most of the way of the back roads, etc. that we don’t use the Expressway! Even if we do us it, if you don’t run with the flow, you will just get run over!
With all the traffic, I have no suggestions except for going the backways if at all possible. A lot of Patrolmen out on the Expressway would be a help! GOOD LUCK AND SAFE KEEPING!