A devastating bus crash on Interstate 20 in Mississippi resulted in the deaths of seven individuals and injuries to 37 others early Saturday. The 2018 Volvo bus, managed by Autobuses Regiomontanos, was en route from Atlanta to Dallas when the accident occurred just outside of Vicksburg. FOX 5 Atlanta reported that the bus company facilitates transportation between Mexico and numerous U.S. locations.
All the victims in the accident were Mexican nationals, a fact confirmed by Mexico’s Foreign Affairs Secretary Alicia Bárcena. The victims have been identified and included a pair of siblings, an 8-year-old boy and his 16-year-old sister, according to information released by Warren County Coroner Doug L. Huskey. An NTSB investigation revealed that a tire failure preceded the tragedy, contributing to the bus's fatal departure from the road.
A representative for Autobuses Regiomontanos, Miranda Fernandez, told CNN, as reported by WSB-TV, "All of the passengers go through proper immigration checkpoints and must show their passports or visas to enter either Mexico or the United States." This statement underscores the legality of the deceased individuals' presence in the country at the time of the incident.
The NTSB has indicated that while a preliminary report on the crash is expected within 30 days, the full investigative process may span up to two years. The ongoing inquiry aims to uncover the detailed events that led to the vehicle's overturning after the reported tire failure. Long-term investigations such as this one by the NTSB are routine in incidents involving mass casualties and transportation disasters.
