Accidents involving buses between US, Mexico

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A look at some accidents since 2002 in the United States involving bus companies that shuttle passengers between the U.S. and Mexico.

Jan. 2, 2008: One person was killed and dozens of other passengers were injured, including a woman whose right arm was amputated, when a bus traveling from Monterrey, Mexico, to Houston veered off U.S. 59 near Victoria, Texas, and flipped on its side. Authorities said the driver, Roberto Garcia Cruz, fell asleep and was driving with the wrong kind of commercial license, both misdemeanors.

Nov. 25, 2007: Four people were killed after a bus traveling near Earle, Ark., crossed the median and hit a pickup truck and semitrailer. Three passengers and the pickup truck driver died. More than 20 others were injured. The driver, Felix Badillo Tapia, was charged with four counts of felony negligent homicide after tests showed he had amphetamines in his system.

Jan. 18, 2006: A Salvadoran man was killed after the commercial van he was riding in hit a patch of black ice near Green River, Utah, lost control and flipped over, ejecting him. A lawsuit filed by his family accuses the drivers of going too fast and violating federal rules limiting the amount of time they could drive in a 24-hour period.

Aug. 1, 2005: A commercial van owned by Houston-based Transportes Diamante was involved in a single vehicle accident in Montgomery, Ala. The driver lost control of the van, which traveled over several lanes of traffic before overturning, injuring passengers, according to court records.

Oct. 29, 2004: One person was killed and several others were severely injured after a van owned by Houston-based Transportes Tania was involved in a crash in Cherry Hill, N.J. Liability for the accident was placed on the driver.

Sept. 20, 2002: Several passengers were injured after a bus operated by Dallas-based Autobuses Lucano Inc. and Houston-based Tres Amigos Tours went off the road and hit a tree in Jasper County, Miss., because the driver and replacement driver tried to switch seats while the bus was moving at 70 mph. A Mississippi jury awarded 1 of the injured passengers $5 million. The award was overturned on appeal and the case is set for retrial.