In this incident, on November 29, 2020, we received a call from the Washington State Patrol (WSP) to help with a bus that had caught on fire on Highway 18. The accident had severely backed up the westbound lane, and quick bus accident recovery was required. We called the WSP ahead of time to advise on how to handle the roadblock once we arrived.
Upon arrival, we found the front tires had sustained too much damage from the fire for towing. We had to move it to perform proper spill clean up. That meant we couldn’t tow the truck from the front in the usual manner, so a different approach was needed. To properly tow the bus instead, we had to perform a double pick up. Once we put the straps into place, we moved the casualty away from the left lane’s remaining debris.
Spill Cleanup
With the bus accident recovery handled, the WSP requested we clean up the remaining debris on the roadway. Until it was clear again, the road was still unsafe for travelers to use. We quickly turned our focus to sweeping up the debris and returned everything to its original condition: clean, clear, and safe. Spill clean up complete.
Continued Bus Accident Recovery
We then continued to a safer location on Tiger Mountain to properly finish the bus accident recovery. Using safety chains, we secured the bus casualty, and we could and set up safety tow lights. To avoid the risk of more debris falling off the bus casualty and risking other drivers’ safety, we drove back very slowly. Back at the yard, we put the bus in a portable parking stall to prevent any spread of contaminants and more spill cleanup.
No matter how long a job takes, we always ensure safety and proper precaution at every step!
