Bus company safety violations including speeding

Wednesday, March 8th 2006, 5:41 am

By: News On 6

OKLAHOMA CITY (AP) -- The Oklahoma Highway Patrol says investigators have identified the driver of a vehicle they allege caused a bus to take evasive action and overturn on an icy Interstate 35 last month, killing two people.

Troopers say a motorist noticed another motorist driving dangerously near Pauls Valley, called authorities and provided a license tag number and direction of travel.

The name of the driver allegedly causing the accident wasn't released.

Investigators will submit their report to the Garvin County District Attorney's office.

Meanwhile, the owner of the bus involved in the February 18th accident has been cited in the past six months for safety violations, including poorly maintained brakes, speeding and bad tires.

Officials say Miguel Esquada, the driver of the bus owned by Autobuses El Conejo Incorporated, says he was braking to avoid colliding with a vehicle that had moved in front of him on southbound I-35.

The vehicle rolled, killing an 8-year-old Chicago boy and a 28-year-old Kansas City woman.

The most recent citation was issued January 25th to an El Conejo driver who wasn't wearing a seat belt.