California Woman Killed in Freak Party Bus Accident, Company Had Previous Violations

Santa Cruz, CA- A California woman was killed Friday after she and another person were thrown from a party bus just before midnight.

A group of about 12 to 15 people were on the party bus returning from a Brad Paisley concert at the Shoreline Amphitheatre. The bus was traveling north bound about 45 miles per hour, when two women got into a physical altercation at the rear of the bus.

In the midst of the fight, the two women slammed into the bus’ rear door, which was not properly locked. They were both thrown from the bus.

One woman, 25 year-old Natasha Nolan died from her injuries. The other unidentified woman had road rash allover but no broken bones, according to the Cupertino Patch.

California Highway Patrol Officer D.J. Sabria said they were unsure of how the back door was opened; there are only two emergency levers for the door, one by the driver and the other on the door itself.

Sabria also said that all the other partiers on the bus had been drinking and did not cooperate with the police.

The bus driver, who did not hear the fight because of the loud music, was not charged.

Mercury News reported today that the company that operates the bus, Party Bus of Santa Cruz had been fined for violations in 2010 which included failing to maintain trip waybills and failing to drug test drivers. In 2009, the company was lax in requiring employees to conduct daily safety inspections and failing to enroll all of the drivers in a DMV program which provides periodic driving records.

The accident is still under investigation. If an accident lawyer can determine who was responsible for Nolan’s wrongful death, her family may be entitled to significant compensation.