The Waterbury Democrat., 1936-11-13
Victim


was experienced on this run. The
run In question is from the CEN
ter of Waterbury to the terminal
In Cheshire In o matter Of thirty
minutes, making no stops TO disc
charge passengers until Mad
River is reached but stopping to
pick up passengers. The schedule
calls for q stop at the Melville
road at 5:18, which was about q
minute or less than a minutes
run from the place where the ac-
cident occurred. which indicated
that the bus was on time, neither
ahead nor behind schedule and In
view of the fact that It was not
going faster than thirty -eight
miles an hour at the time, as
checked by the machine follow
ing, the driver was not pushing
1t to undue speed.
I probably will be criticised by
some of the occupants OF the bus
who have testified that the bus
was doing sixty miles All hour or
better, and they probably will feel
that their estimate Is more &C
curate. However, riding In bus
and riding In q pleasure car,
which a number Of them COM
pared In stating how they reached
their estimate OF speed, Is very
different indeed and particular
ly would this be magnifled by the
sudden double skid and the quick
plunge across the highway prior
to the accident.
Equipment
The equipment Of the bus has
also been criticised. This ! exam
ined and found that the dual
wheels OH the left rear were
smooth on the tread but not
where the tired Joins the side wall
As q matter Of fact, the outside
tire had some Of the pattern still
left on the tread. The right rear
wheels, on which the principal
bearing at the turn came, were IN
much better condition. The inside
tire the pattern was entirely In
evidence, although not OF great
depth right at the center, where
as the pattern showed TO q con-
siderable extent on the outside
wheel although smooth In the CEN
ter, which left a great deal Of
rubber on the surface to hold.
The front wheels had O substan-
tial amount Of pattern on both.
The highway at the point where
the accident occurred Is concrete,
cross-r oughened so as to give 1t
not too smooth a surface so that
even In wet weather the tires
would grip substantially. The per-
centage of down-grade at the
point where the accident occurred
Is Ave percent. which Is the same
grade as exists In a part Of the
IS" curves just west Of the Mar
ion road. The witness, Green, was
driving up the grade from the d.
rection of Cheshire towards Wa
terbury as the bus was going
down the grade. AS the bus went
into It's first skid he was fearful
that the rear end of the bus
would swing over and strike his
car. For that reason he pulled on
to the shoulder Of the road and
stopped to watch the outcome Of
the skid and saw practically
everything that transpired.
No Carelessness
I am satisfied that the driver
of the bus, O'Donnell, was not
careless, that he was not crowd
ed for time at the time this &C
cident occurred. but that some
condition existed on this highway
at the point where the accident
occurred which was exaggerated
by a sudden shower which occur
red just as he came along. or
Just before he came along. q con-
dition that would probably not be
met again II ever at that point
The schedule has been In opera
ton for q considerable length Of
time and has been reasonably
maintained SO that an expert
enced operator. driving consist.