$10 Million Settlement Reached in Houston Charter Bus Crash
DECEMBER 18, 2008 – The Houston Chronicle reported yesterday that a settlement has been reached in a January 2 charter bus crash that killed a 55-year-old Houston man and injured 44 other people. A settlement reached with the bus driver, owners, and managers was made public yesterday. The bus companies had limited insurance, and the $10 million settlement represented the maximum insurance proceeds available in the case.
The accident happened on January 2, 2008 on U.S. 59 near Victoria, Texas. The bus driver fell asleep and went off the road near the U.S. 77 interchange, flipping the bus on its side. The bus was en route from Monterrey, Mexico, to Houston, Texas. The driver of the bus had multiple convictions for driving while intoxicated, although he was not drunk at the time of the crash.
The family of Pedro Mendez, 55, of Houston, who died in the accident, was awarded $4.3 million. The other 44 injured victims who filed claims will share the remaining $5.7 million settlement.
