Interior of a party bus (Photo credit: Wikipedia)
A California woman returning from a concert in a party bus was killed after the rear exit doors opened while the vehicle was in motion. The bus was traveling south on Highway 17 towards Santa Cruz when two women on the bus began fighting. It’s unclear why or how, but the rear exit flew open and both women fell from the vehicle. 25 year-old Natasha Noland was killed under the rear wheel of the bus. The 20 year-old involved in the fight suffered road rash.
Both women were inebriated, as well as the 12 to 15 other passengers on the bus. Most of them fled the scene following the accident, as some were drinking under-age. Noland’s boyfriend was present when CHP officers arrived. He was arrested for assaulting a peace officer, resisting arrest, vandalism and suspicion of public intoxication.
The company owning the vehicle, Party Bus of Santa Cruz, has previously been cited for violations in 2010. They were fined $4,500 operating under a suspended permit and failing to enroll every driver in a drug and alcohol testing certification program. However, the company passed inspection as recently as March 2012. The driver from this incident was sober and operating with a valid license.
Party buses have become a preferred method of transportation for nightlife and entertainment in recent years. The buses usually have swanky interiors with lights, a sound system and often an open bar. They have also fallen under scrutiny for enabling under-age drinking and unloading extremely inebriated passengers in areas that are unprepared to handle them.
The incident has renewed the push for Assembly Bill 45, which seeks to close a loophole in the current law. Party buses function much the same as limousines, but the loophole allows them to deny responsibility for drinking in their vehicle. Limousine operators must check identification of their riders if there is alcohol present and deny under-age riders from drinking. Party buses have no such obligation.
The bill would require party bus companies to question if alcohol will be present when clients make reservations. If there are minors present, there must be a chaperone 25 years or older. If minors are found to be drinking on board, the trip is cancelled and the bus returns to the point of origin for that trip.
It would further penalize the driver of the party bus for failing to comply with the law by fining him or her $2,000. If a chaperone was present, he or she could be facing misdemeanor charges for providing alcohol to a minor.
The California assembly has passed Bill 45 on to the Senate where it is awaiting approval. If passed, it will become effective next year. The bill has garnered public support for its power to cut down under-age drinking. However, some party bus companies claim the bill would burden drivers when the true responsibility lies with the parents or people who signed the contract.
For Noland, the bill won’t be of much help. The investigation into the cause of the rear door opening is still underway as of time of publishing. If you have been hurt or injured in an accident involving party bus or any other vehicle, contact the Accident Attorneys Group for a consultation.
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