New school bus safety recommendations expected

[July 23, 2013]  WASHINGTON (AP) -- Federal investigators are expected to make new school bus safety recommendations based on fatal accidents in New Jersey and Florida last year.

The National Transportation Safety Board meets Tuesday to consider a report on the probable cause of an accident in Chesterfield, N.J., in which a dump truck slammed into the back left side of a school bus, spinning the bus around until it collided with a traffic signal pole. An 11-year-old girl was killed and five other students -- including the girl's two sisters -- were seriously injured.

The board is also expected to consider findings from a previously concluded investigation of a crash in Port St. Lucie, Fla., in which a semi tractor-trailer truck hit a school bus, killing one student and seriously injuring four others.

[Associated Press; By JOAN LOWY]

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