Megabus seen tilting on Borman Expressway, halted for safety violations

(GARY, Ind.) A Megabus from Chicago was taken out of service and its driver was ticketed Wednesday, after police saw the bus tilting to the side on the Borman Expressway and allegedly found other safety violations on board.

About 10:20 a.m., an Indiana State Police sergeant pulled the bus over on the expressway (I-80/94) near Grant Street, after he clocked it traveling at 67 mph in a 55 mph zone, an ISP statement said.

The bus, carrying 67 passengers to Atlanta from Chicago, was also leaning far to the right, state police said.

After the sergeant stopped the bus, driver Damaris Hussain, 47, told police she was aware the coach was leaning to the side, state police claim. Officials escorted the Megabus to a truck stop and allegedly found other safety violations.

All three of the airbags near the right side rear axle were deflated and not providing any support to the bus, police said. Authorities also found the front emergency exit door was defective, and that the driver had to close it by hand.

Authorities found other violations in the driver’s pre-trip inspection of the Megabus and found an air leak in the rear brakes, state police said.

Officials placed the coach out of service for suspension failure, a defective emergency exit and unsafe operations, state police said. Hussain, of Chicago, was ticketed for speeding and suspension failure.

Megabus is aware of the incident and is fully cooperating with the investigation, spokesman Sean Hughes said.

All Megabus.com companies receive regular safety audits by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration and all have the highest safety rating achievable by the U.S. Department of Transportation, Hughes said.

A replacement bus arrived at 12:25 p.m. and the passengers resumed their trip. The bus will remain out of service until it is repaired, police said.