WSP: No Mechanical Fault Found in Fatal Bus Crash

This story is by Jeanne Gustafson.

The Washington State Patrol’s Major Accident Investigation team (M.A.I.T.) said in a press release today that it found no mechanical problems with a bus involved in a collision in Kirkland that killed a Bellevue couple in early May.

WSP continues its investigation in to the May 6 fatality collision involving a contract bus for Sound Transit and an SUV, which happened at about 9:30 p.m. at the intersection of the northbound I-405 transit exit and NE 128th Street in Kirkland.

Elizabeth and Robert Rotta of Bellevue, passengers in the SUV, died from their injuries.

The bus traveled up the exit and failed to stop for a red light at the intersection colliding with the passenger side of an eastbound Ford Escape. Elizabeth and Robert Rotta, both right side passengers in the Escape, died from their injuries; at least one of the 25 bus passengers sustained minor injuries.  

The driver of the Escape, the Rottas' adult son, was seriously injured. After the collision, the bus continued across the intersection past the transit stop and traveled north down the onramp and on to the mainline of northbound I-405.  It came to a stop about 3,900 feet down the road from the initial point of impact.

After the crash, the driver of the bus claimed that the brakes failed. WSP said it will take months to complete the investigation, but the mechanical evaluation of the bus--the acceleration, braking and steering systems--has been completed.  That investigation showed no mechanical issues with the bus, WSP said in the release. 

M.A.I.T. detectives are investigating the case using what they call the "human, vehicle, environmental (HVE)" model.  This type of comprehensive investigation will take several months to complete.  

"We want to ensure citizens riding public transportation can do so safely and with a piece of mind the buses are safe," WSP said in the release.