On July 14, 1986, at about 4:15 a.m. a tractor-semitrailer combination operated by Rising Fast Trucking Company, Inc., was making a U-turn at a highway crossover on 1-40 near Brinkley, Arkansas, when the semitrailer was struck by an eastbound intercity bus operated by Trailways Lines, Inc. The truckdriver and his codriver were not injured. The busdriver and 27 passengers sustained injuries ranging from minor to serious. One passenger was not injured.
We determined that the probable cause of this accident was the attempt by the driver of the Rising Fast Trucking Company, Inc., vehicle to execute an illegal U-turn at a highway crossover. Contributing to the severity of the accident was the operation of the Trailways Lines, Inc., intercity bus at a speed which did not permit adequate time and distance to slow or stop the bus to avoid the collision.
We made recommendations to the Federal Highway Administration, to the Governor and the Legislative Leaders of the Arkansas General Assembly and to the American Trucking Associations, Inc.
