Fatal train and bus collision: one year later

Tomorrow will mark one year since that fatal collision between a train and tour bus carrying senior citizens in Biloxi. The accident claimed the lives of four people on board that bus.
News 25’s Toni Miles gives us a look back at how the tragedy unfolded, how first responders from across the Coast were quick to arrive and help the injured, and acts of heroism from locals who came across the scene.
It was just another ordinary day back on March 7th of last year as a bus load of senior citizens boarded their tour bus for day three of a seven day trip to visit Coast casinos. Their trip to Boomtown Casino was cut short when the bus got stuck on the tracks at the Main Street crossing in Biloxi. Witness Mark Robinson said, “I noticed that the conductor was doing everything in his power to stop the train, but the momentum was too far forward.”
Chaos ensued shortly after as a CSX train approached and collided with the bus still packed with people. Resident John Kemp jumped into action, parking his vehicle next to the bus to help those on board. “They were hurt. They were bleeding, probably had broken limbs, so they had ladders up to the window and people had to kind of back out and crawl down the ladders to get out.”
Four of the 28 people on board died, but there could have been more fatalities had it not been for local heroes and first responders across the Coast who rushed to the scene. Kemp was one of many honored for the help provided at the scene of the crash by the Biloxi Fire Department during the fire department’s inaugural awards ceremony in January of this year. Biloxi Fire Chief Joe Boney said, “We wanted to take the opportunity to not only thank the firefighters that worked and risked their lives, but also the agencies who came and assisted us.”
The crash prompted an investigation by the National Safety Board. Initial findings revealed the bus was a Diamond Tours bus, one of three that were texted directions by a company representative. The driver of the bus involved in the accident reportedly was using an Echo Transportation provided GPS unit set for commercial use. Lawsuits were filed soon after the crash on behalf of relatives of the victims who died. Attorney Matthew Mestayer said, “Obviously, there’s an issue with the railroad crossings, not just, of course, the tragedy with the bus accident, which everyone knows about, but there’s been a history of other problems.”
Regardless of who or what might be to blame, Coast residents came out in full force to support survivors and victims with local clergy performing last rites, makeshift memorials at the site, and blood drives in honor of those forever impacted by that fateful day on March 7th, 2017.