Bus company promises aid

0 Comments | Deseret News (Salt Lake City), Jan 12, 2008 | by Pat Reavy Deseret Morning News

The parent company of the bus that rolled in southern Utah, killing nine people and injuring more than 20 others, has announced more assistance to the victims and their families.

Corporate Transportation 'N Tours motorcoach company said it would cover the expense for the bodies of those who died to be returned to their loved ones. At least eight of the nine victims were being held in mortuaries in Blanding and Moab.

For those passengers who were injured and have not been released from the hospital yet or have been unable to return home, the Red Cross will coordinate their travel arrangements and CTNT will pay for it, according to a statement from the company.

CTNT said it will also "help cover" the expense of loved ones working through the Red Cross to travel to Utah to be with their injured family member.

An Arrow Stage Lines bus carrying 51 passengers and driver missed a sharp turn and rolled down a ravine off U.S. 163 near Mexican Hat, Utah, on Jan. 6. The bus was en route to Phoenix after a ski weekend in Telluride.

Although the bus was forced to take a detour from its regular route because of an avalanche in Colorado, investigators do not believe weather played a role in the accident. The National Transportation Safety Board was working with the Utah Highway Patrol in investigating the crash. One of their queries was how fast the bus operated by the 71-year-old driver was going at the time of the crash.

The bus company Thursday said it was also in the process of identifying personal items recovered from the crash and returning them to family members. Those looking to recover their goods should call 480-310-0767.

E-mail: preavy@desnews.com