I don't think the driver was intending to detour. If she had been meaning to turn right, she would have noticed any (alleged) brake problems long before she reached the intersection. (plenty of time to change her mind and stick to her usual course) Also, if you pull up maps or satellite of that intersection, you will notice that turning right (if the driver wanted to detour by turning right) would have meant turning (roughly) 135 degrees. It's almost as close to a "U" turn as it is to a right angle. You wouldn't even think about it unless the bus was approaching the intersection VERY slowly. And one of the few known facts of this case is that the bus was apparently travelling at a high rate of speed when it reached the intersection. It's my opinion that the driver was planning to go straight, but somehow managed to drive all the way off the road. I think it is coincidence only that the bus left the road at an intersection. A few seconds earlier or later, and the bus would have simply rolled over in the ditch. IMHO No, I have no reasonable explanation as to why the bus left the road. Brakes were fine, though driver claims otherwise. Steering was probably fine. What does that leave . . . ??? I can't help but keep thinking even IF the brakes were bad, what caused the bus to leave the road??? I mean, if the brakes are bad, wouldn't the obvious result be that the bus crossed the intersection faster than the driver intended, but STAYED ON THE ROAD??? -Dave
