Lawsuits filed over bus crash that killed 4

A Houston lawyer is filing lawsuits in Harris County seeking $250 million in damages on behalf of 15 passengers aboard a charter bus hit by a freight train in Mississippi earlier this month.

The suits, filed separately, name a slew of defendants, including the Harris County-based holding company TBL Group.

“This is a terrible tragedy,” attorney Tony Buzbee said in a statement. “This type of thing happens far too often across the United States.”

The March 7 crash in Biloxi killed four people from a senior citizens’ group in Bastrop near Austin. Dozens were injured, including the plaintiff in the lead case, Mary Hall.

When the bus driver decided to detour and take a “scenic route” that afternoon, the motor coach got stuck on a railroad crossing with an approaching train drawing near.

“Rather than immediately get the passengers off the bus, the driver instead continued to attempt to move his bus,” the suit says. “Conversely, rather than begin slowing and stopping the train, the train conductor instead continued to travel toward the crossing, eventually striking the bus.”

So far, Buzbee has filed two suits, and he has plans to file additional cases. Among the named defendants are a Dallas-based charter bus rental company, a Florida-based tour company, the bus manufacturer in Minnesota and railroad company CSX.

“Our hope is that through these efforts, we can do something here such that this type of thing never happens again,” Buzbee said.