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After deadly Virginia bus crash, investigators probe company's links to other carriers

The company that operated a bus involved in a deadly crash in Virginia last week has ties to a broader network of travel firms, including one shut down by regulators a decade ago due to "excessive" speeding violations, a CBS News investigation has found. Now, federal authorities are also looking into those connections.

After deadly Virginia bus crash, investigators probe company's links to other carriers

TL;DR

  • E&P Travel Inc., the operator of a bus involved in a deadly Virginia crash, has ties to a network of travel firms, some with past safety violations.
  • Federal authorities are investigating these connections, suspecting the network operates as "chameleon carriers" who rebrand to avoid regulatory oversight.
  • The company involved in the crash has a history of speeding violations and a driver who failed an English proficiency test.
  • A previous bus company, Pandora Travel Inc., linked to individuals also associated with E&P Travel, was shut down by regulators for a pattern of non-compliance and unsafe driving.
  • Despite violations, E&P Travel received a "satisfactory" safety rating from the FMCSA.