[Tlc] L-buscrash

[justinm at ucr.edu]

This has been big news here in California. Not sure if others have heard about this horrible accident.
Thank you,
justin



2008-1008 - Sacramento Bee - Refugee community asks hard questions about bus crash

http://www.sacbee.com/288/story/1297011.html

sacbee.com - The online division of The Sacramento Bee

This story is taken from Sacbee / News / AP State News / Bee State News.

Refugee community asks hard questions about bus crash

By Stephen Magagnini and Chelsea Phua - smagagnini at sacbee.com
Published 12:00 am PDT Wednesday, October 8, 2008

Grief-stricken Southeast Asian refugees asked hard questions Tuesday night about the casino bus accident that claimed eight lives and injured all 35 others aboard.

Five California Highway Patrol officials – including two assistant chiefs – answered questions for more than an hour at a community meeting at the Hmong Women's Heritage Association on Florin Road.

The gambler's special that left Sacramento at 5 p.m. Sunday flipped over about 6:12 p.m. on Lone Star Road about four miles from the Colusa Casino Resort, said Sgt. Patrick W. Landreth of the Williams CHP office.

Xou Vang, 23, of Sacramento wanted to know why his grandmother Lou Her remained trapped under the bus until about 6:30, when her family lost phone contact with her. Her, 68, was one of eight people who died in the accident.

"When she called, she said she was stuck and there was no one to pull her out," Vang said. "My dad received two calls on his cell phone, he called her twice, and she was still alive until 6:30."

Vang wanted to know what the response time was. After an off-duty Colusa County deputy sheriff called in the accident at 6:12, "the first units arrived approximately four minutes later" and immediately called for ambulances and helicopters to take people out of the remote area, Landreth said.

"Eight people were flown in helicopters to trauma centers," added Assistant Chief Steven Bell.

CHP officials couldn't explain why Her was still trapped under the bus until 6:30 but promised to issue a full report on the accident in several months.

They were also grilled on the language barrier, since many of the seniors on the bus didn't speak much English.

Relatives who arrived on the scene and at area hospitals helped identify victims.

Say Vang, whose father, Xee Hue Vang, 87, died and whose mother, Mao Lee Yang, is scheduled to undergo surgery this morning, said he and his siblings couldn't find their parents for hours.

"This is a big accident where language was a barrier," Vang said. "I lost hope, I thought that both my parents had probably died. I pray to any of the elderly in the hospital, 'Please don't die!' "

Vang also wanted to know where his father's gold bracelet was, and how his family was going to pay for a traditional Hmong funeral, which costs $30,000 to $40,000. "My mom and my dad are everything," he said. "My dad's a brave man and he led us out of Laos."

The CHP's Bell said a book containing photos of all belongings would be made available to the Hmong Women's Heritage Association, which can be reached at (916) 394-1405.

The bus driver, Quintin Watts, survived the accident but has been charged with driving under the influence, Landreth said.

But activist Theresa Saechao, representing the Iu Mien, and Hmong radio personality Rose Xiong wanted to know whether the casinos or the bus company would take any responsibility – and what government officials knew about the safety of the bus.

"Did the bus have any liability insurance?" Xiong asked.

"Does the casino have any liability?" asked Saechao. "They target Southeast Asians who are struggling with income."

Bell couldn't speak for the casino and said the question of bus safety or liability is part of the criminal investigation.

David Wiltse of the American Red Cross said his agency might be able to provide grief counseling for the families of the bus victims.

And children who lost relatives can receive assistance through the Sacramento City Unified School District, said representative Chiem-Seng Yaang.

Saechao said her agency, Sacramento Lao Family Community, will be collecting donations to help with funeral expenses. Norm DeYoung of the Asian Pacific Islander American Public Affairs Association said his organization was contributing $3,500 to the funeral fund.

Koua Franz, executive director of the Hmong Women's Heritage Association, which is coordinating the relief efforts, remarked, "A lot of people are angry, a lot of people are in shock, and a lot of families are concerned. They're getting very little information about the victims, the investigation, and if all the victims' families have been properly contacted."

Funerals need to be planned, spirit healings need to be conducted, prayers need to be said.

One survivor, Pia Xiong, 51, was receiving both spirit healing and Western medical treatments. As she prepared for a 10-hour surgery Tuesday at UC Davis Medical Center, her family performed a traditional Hmong ritual at her south Sacramento home to pray for her health. A relative, who is the clan's shaman, lit incense to invoke the spirits of the Earth and sky to bless Xiong.

Xiong, a widow with 12 children to care for, is the glue that holds the family together, said her nephew Chor Thor, 35.

"Maybe there should be stricter regulations on bus drivers, maybe there should be seat belts on the bus," said Thor. He hopes the incident is a wake-up call – and maybe a sign from the spirits – that will discourage other elderly refugees from going to casinos.

The Sacramento Bee, 2100 Q St., P.O. Box 15779, Sacramento, CA 95852
Phone: (916) 321-1000

Copyright © The Sacramento Bee

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Dr. Justin McDaniel
Dept. of Religious Studies
3046 INTN
University of California, Riverside
Riverside, CA 92521
951-827-4530
justinm at ucr.edu