A former University of Utah associate professor died after falling out of a moving shuttle bus in Salt Lake City, Utah on Thursday, November, 19, 2009. The professor was a 63-year-old female originally from China. According to the Salt Lake Tribune, police are still trying to locate her family so her identity has not been revealed to the public.
The woman fell through the shuttle’s side rear door as it turned left from North Campus Drive onto Mario Capechhi Drive at around 8:20 at night.”She was standing at the time of the turn, apparently lost her grip and fell against the doors,” said campus police officer Sgt. Arbon Nordgran said. Police are investigating why the doors opened during the turn. The woman apparently hit her head and was alive but unconscious when paramedics arrived. She died later that evening at University of Utah hospital.
The Utah Highway Patrol inspected the bus and determined that driver error was not a factor and the bus appeared to pass a simple safety inspection. University officials are cooperating with The Utah Department of Transportation officials who are conducting a more comprehensive investigation.
I offer my sincere condolences to the family of this victim as they mourn this loss.
As the investigation continues, many questions will need to be answered; specifically, why the door opened in the first place. It seems logical that shuttle passengers will stand close to doors. Safety devices are used so that those doors don’t open when the bus is moving. University officials admit that the shuttle door should not have opened while the bus was still moving so that certainly needs to be answered for. If it was an equipment malfunction, the door or bus manufacturer could be responsible.
Ron Kramer is a Salt Lake City, Utah accident and injury lawyer with offices in Bountiful, Utah, Salt Lake City, Utah and Provo, Utah.
The Kramer Law Group does not currently represent any of the parties referenced in the blog article above. We have cited and linked to the source of our information. If you were involved in the above incident, or one like it, and have questions about your rights and possible remedies, you may call us or another reputable Utah personal injury law firm. The information and opinions expressed above are provided as a public service and should not be used in place of legal advice from a qualified personal injury lawyer. Most skilled and qualified Utah lawyers offer a free consultation. We will likewise provide a free consultation to not-at-fault persons (and their family members) mentioned in this article.
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)
.png)