Bus driver in crash faced prior complaints

Keith Paul

Thursday, July 12, 2001 | 11:03 a.m.

The driver of a Greyhound bus, which crashed through a guardrail near Glendale July 3, was the subject of two previous passenger complaints that he fell asleep while driving.

The earlier complaints were filed with the bus company, Nevada Highway Patrol officials said this morning.

Troopers checked the brakes and other mechanical aspects of the 2000 Greyhound bus and found nothing that would have caused the accident, said Trooper Alan Davidson, a highway patrol spokesman.

"There was nothing mechanical found. It appears to be all driver error, especially with passengers reporting he fell asleep twice before the crash and the previous complaints of him falling asleep," Davidson said.

One complaint was filed with Greyhound about Jerry Davis in 1993; another one was filed in May. Both were submitted by passengers and reported that Davis, 61, fell asleep while driving his route, Davidson said.

All 37 passengers and Davis were taken to various area hospitals after the July 3 crash about 3:25 a.m. at the State Route 168 exit off Interstate 15. Only a 5-year-old boy was able to escape injury.

Most of the passengers have been released from area hospitals, but five remain hospitalized. Davis was still listed in critical condition in University Medical Center this morning. Troopers have been unable to speak with him about the crash.

Passengers on the bus that crashed told police and the Sun that Davis had twice fallen asleep while driving the bus July 3. One passenger even sat in a seat near Davis to make sure he stayed awake, passengers said.

Kristin Parsley, a Greyhound spokeswoman, said she did not know about any previous complaints filed against Davis in regard to him falling asleep while driving.

Parsley said the company has strict guidelines on how many hours a driver may operate a bus before resting. The drivers are required to keep a log book and routinely have safety training.

Police said Davis had twice been cited for making errors in his log book, noting in the book he was off duty when he was actually driving. The errors were not made on the trip that ended with the crash, police said.

Parsley said that as long as drivers can pass the U.S. Department of Transportation physical they are allowed to drive. Firing a bus driver because of age even if he or she passed the physical and had a valid license would be age discrimination, Parsley said.

Davis was driving the early morning leg of the route from Grand Junction, Colo., to Las Vegas, for only the second time. He had normally driven during the day and was able to sleep at night. The current shift, which he requested, had him driving at night or in the early morning hours, police said.

Davis had 13 hours off before starting his route, Parsley said.

The bus left New York City June 30 and was bound for Los Angeles with many stops. The bus was not scheduled to stop in Glendale. Davis had been driving for Greyhound since 1974.