Arizona bus fatality

[HMVWNAB]

Very sad news.

Check on your bus friends you don’t see often.

https://www.12news.com/article/news/local/arizona/...fab0e0cfb7

[my3bugs]

that was down right depressing !!!

[tasb]

Yes, very sad and concerning for me. I’ve driven that stretch of road often. It can be steep, especially worrisome in a stock Bus. I won’t be driving my 36 hp Bus anywhere at night.
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Roads Scholar
1957 Kombi low mileage 36 hp governor equipped M 178 Slow Drag Winner 2014, 2015, 2018

1965 hardtop Deluxe Microbus owned since 1990 M 620 factory 12 v 1500cc

1961 (October)Single Cab- Road Trip Workhorse

Member# 2059

[Eric&Barb]

[KTPhil]

I use LED running and brake/turn lights so I am very visible from the rear. Doesn't look as "vintage" but I don't want to be the headline.
I may add reflectors for the same reason...
_________________
Current Fleet:
- '71 Fastback
- '69 Westfalia
Retired:
- '67 Beetle
- '65 Beetle (x2)
- '65 Bus
- '71 Squareback

[Eric&Barb]

[KTPhil]

Yes, that why I use LEDs for running (tail) lights, too.

On the opposite side of the spectrum, those "smoked" lenses so popular today (even with a smoked reflector!) invite accidents and even legal liability since they are not DOT approved and someone might argue they contributed to the likelihood of the accident.
_________________
Current Fleet:
- '71 Fastback
- '69 Westfalia
Retired:
- '67 Beetle
- '65 Beetle (x2)
- '65 Bus
- '71 Squareback

[EverettB]

Wow, that sucks.

[BonTonRoulet]

Very sad and unfortunate incident.
I don't drive my 66 microbus on the interstate for this very reason. It's bad enough on our rural 4 lane State highways (2 lanes same direction divided by wide grass median) when someone goes past me at 80-85 in a 65 where I'm doing what I can to do 53.

I've got a small flashing yellow light with a magnetic base and a coiled cord with cigar lighter adapter for power. I could stick that on the roof and roll a lot safer than without. Might have been the difference between life and death for that unfortunate person.
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Never argue with an Idiot. They'll only bring you down to their level and beat you with experience.

[Glenn]

The Corom Rug Works bus was hit at night. Luckily no one was hurt and the bus was repaired.

_________________
Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"

Member #1009

#BlueSquare

עַם יִשְׂרָאֵל חַי

[vws-microcars4jim]

[dodger tom]

early splits had tiny round taillights low.

later splits had slightly larger taillights low.

bays had bigger rear-light lenses, but taillights still small and low.

vanagons flipped to horizontal lens, but taillights still small and even lower.

eurovan didn’t do much better. still small and still low.

what was volkswagen thinking?

the id buzz finally has taillights up higher.

not to fault the bus driver. the trucker was probably texting, or watching tiktok.
_________________
1978 Champaign Edition 2 Westfalia
Would never find the time to keep up another classic air-cooled.

[LAGrunthaner]

In honor of our fellow fallen Split Bus driver please post safety devices/links or images that we can add to our buses, LED tail lights, reflective magnets/stickers, fire suppressants etc.
I'll start.

LED's
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1865103

Blazecut automatic fire suppressant
https://blazecut.com/t-series/

https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=...mp;start=0

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https://www.redcross.org/about-us/news-and-events/...bsite.html
Maui Roadsters
www.mauiroadsters.com
http://www.oacdp.org

[1970PAKombi]

Certainly thoughts and prayers go out to a fallen hobbyist and their family. Can't imagine what they're going through at this time. I hope that they're hanging in there and processing appropriately.


--Echoing the PSA preached by others on here, make smart choices and don't put yourself in those situations. Love and respect to the poor responder that did their best and now has trauma related to it.

[Buggeee]

This is a real tragedy. I put LED bulbs and this roofline light bar in the Vanagon and I think I will add that to the old busses after reading this. It just sticks on the window glass so it does not ruin anything at all. The LEDs and light bar are super bright like a modern car. That technology has jumped by leaps and bounds and is super inexpensive now. The light bar was $30 delivered by Amazon. Its 12v so that conversion is a bit more involved but unless its a trailer queen it might as well be safe to drive.
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Big Time 1988 Vanagon Westy
Release the Krankenwagen! 1966 Sportsmobile Camper
Dr. Kompressor 72 Super Duper
61 Turkis Pile (adopted out)

[von_hansel]

It is really hard to believe that the driver of the bus was doing 35 mph in this section. My assumption is the truck driver fell asleep.

This story hits hard as I have driven the 10 at 4am in my bus.

Does anyone know Ben A Connel? He stated on IG that it was his step dad who perished. My condolences to the family.
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[crofty]

How was it determined that the Bus was only going 35? By a guy that arrived minutes later?

Regardless, thats a bummer.
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Your Vanagon sucks, Stop waving at me.

[DanM]

[Malokin Martin]

[Stocknazi]