Ongoing Investigation
DPS report points to bus driver in fatal Irving crash
The Texas Department of Public Safety has released a report on the Cardinal Coach Line bus that crashed April 11 in Irving, leaving three people dead and more than 40 injured. CultureMap obtained a copy of the report, which says that bus driver Loyd Rieve, 65, "failed to drive in a single lane" before eventually hitting a concrete barrier on State Hwy. 161.
"The driver later stated that he possibly could have blacked out," the report reads. Rieve and two passengers were ejected from the bus, which rolled onto its right side after impact.
No mechanical errors were listed, though the report notes that the investigation into the crash is ongoing. Rieve had no alcohol in his body at the time of accident: 8:59 am.
The bus was carrying senior citizens to a casino in Oklahoma when it crashed. Paula Hahn, 69, Alice Stanley, 82, and Sue Taylor, 82, died as a result of the accident. Taylor had organized the group trip.
Rieve has also been involved in another fatality in his capacity as a professional charter bus driver. In 1998, Rieve struck a man who was helping a stranded motorist on the side of the highway.
At the time, Rieve worked for Central West Motor Stages Inc. of Grand Prairie. The Associated Press reports that a grand jury declined to indict Rieve for negligent homicide but did find his employer negligent.
