Six misdemeanor charges filed in tour bus crash

Tuesday, Nov. 7, 2000 | 10:46 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Six misdemeanor charges have been filed against the driver of a tour bus that crashed in a remote area of Esmeralda County, injuring dozens of British travelers in September.

District Attorney Patty Cafferata said Monday she brought the charges against Lotfali Rankouh, the driver of the California Sun Line Inc. charter bus that was traveling from Las Vegas to Mammoth Lakes, Calif. An arrest warrant has been issued for Rankouh, 54, of San Diego.

Cafferata also asked the Nevada Highway Patrol to send a copy of its investigation to the state Transportation Services Authority for possible disciplinary action.

All 39 passengers, Rankouh and a tour guide were injured. Rankouh received minor scratches but 15 of the passengers were seriously injured.

The bus drifted off the side of the road, overcorrected, flipped on its side and slid 200 feet.

Rankouh has a clean driving record in California. He is charged with one count of driving without due care causing an accident, one count of driving fatigued and four counts of false log book entries.

"We need to reassure our residents and tourists that our traffic laws are enforced, and that tour bus companies are strictly regulated for safety," Cafferata said.

The accident report by the highway patrol was also reviewed, at the request of Cafferata, by Clark County District Attorney Stewart Bell, Chief Deputy District Attorney Gary Booker, the Vehicular Crimes Unit and other staff members. The report outlined the circumstances surrounding the crash, the mechanical operations of the vehicle and Rankouh's driving history.

The criminal complaint signed by Patrol Sgt. Dennis Osborn was filed in the Esmeralda County Justice Court in Goldfield.