Federal investigators rule out mechanical failure as cause of deadly bus crash
BALTIMORE _ Federal investigators ruled out mechanical defects as a cause of a bus crash that killed six people and injured 11 others in Baltimore, authorities said Friday.
The announcement leaves open a working theory by police that 67-year-old Glenn Chappell suffered a medical emergency Tuesday morning, causing the school bus he was driving to veer into oncoming traffic and smash into a oncoming Maryland Transit Administration bus.
"We have completed the mechanical inspections of both buses involved in the crash and no mechanical defects or deficiencies were notes," said Jennifer Morrison, an investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board.
Officers also named the sixth person killed in the crash and called for help in finding the victim's family. Pattie Lynn Martinez, 46, last known to live in Fells Point, was identified Friday.
Baltimore City Councilwoman Mary Pat Clarke said Friday that she has asked the city school system to terminate its contract with a bus company that employed Chappell, after it was found that the Maryland Motor Vehicle Administration had revoked his driving privileges two months ago because he failed to provide the agency with a required certificate showing he was in good health.
An attorney for the bus company, AAAfordable Transportation Inc., said Chappell passed a physical exam five months ago. Baltimore city schools officials said they had records on file showing Chappell passed his annual physical in June.
_The Baltimore Sun
