Dreadful coach crash in Switzerland.
 

Both drivers and a score of children killed:-

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-17362643

A recent crash involving a driver from the UK is thought to have resulted from the driver falling asleep - even though there was a relief driver travelling on the bus. I wonder if drivers maintain different sleep patterns during the stay in the resort?

Initial reports of the current incident are suggesting that 'excessive speed' might be the cause.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worl...-children.html

They were just an hour into the journey.

There was a vertical wall at the end of a 'run-off' area.

The coach veered over the kerb into the run-off area and hit the vertical wall at 'full speed'.

An unusual event.

Was the driver 'inattentive' and maybe swerved at the last second to turn into the run-off area by mistake?

Recent reports are playing down the earlier claims of excessive speed.

In Dutch, but there are 'graphics' - click on the numbers 1 to 4:-

http://www.standaard.be/artikel/www....tra/busongeval

Photograph of the 'wall':- http://1.nieuwsbladcdn.be/Assets/Ima...1.jpg.h600.jpg

Looking 'again' I suggest that there was a 'lay-by' (look at the road markings) which had merged again with the main carriageway. The recess (with a standard kerb) seems intended for pedestrians only.

I suppose we might never know the exact cause but, after seeing the graphics (from the link above) it might be possible that there was a tyre blow-out. That could have caused the bus to veer to the right and hit the wall, the first time. Then, it has rebounded and the driver might've over-corrected, causing the second, much more serious impact.

All pure speculation on my part. Perhaps best to leave it until the official investigation is concluded and reported.

My sympathies to all involved.

Apparently, photographs show at least one rear tyre deflated.

Here is a clip from GoogooMap of a refuge (though not the one where the crash occurred - this is from the opposite carrigeway).

http://maps.google.co.uk/maps?q=Sier...,,0,19.48&z=19

I believe the crash occurred on a right-hand curve.

I wonder if the driver was 'drawn-in' to the lay-by by the green lighting thinking it was the rear of another vehicle, then swerved out when he realised and then lost control due to a rear-tyre being deflated.

Speculation of course . . .

Either way, whatever, my thoughts and prayers are with the families of the deceased.

As you say GP, Dreadful.

Reports that the seats were torn away from their floor-mountings . . .

I am just horrified at the state of the bus from a 60mph crash. What if that were a head on with a wagon both doing 60?

The effect would be the same - if the two vehicles were of identical weight and construction.

Barrier impact tests are done against a solid immoveable structure (as was the wall in the tunnel), so no penetration occurs.

Like billiard balls, vehicles that are similar will 'bounce off' each other just as if they had impacted a solid wall.

The speed of impact doesn't double as you might think at first.

Think of it as approaching a ballistic mirror.

This was simply a 60mph (or whatever speed) barrier impact test . . .