Guardrail in fatal school bus crash did not meet standards

Expert says type of rail has not been tested since in decades

HOUSTON – The type of rail at the bridge on 610 South Loop over Telephone Road met standards when it was installed, but would not meet current standards put into place as newer technology developed over time, according to a lead researcher at The Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M University.

A school bus crashed through that railing Tuesday morning, killing two students.

Federal records show the bridge was built in 1970. An engineer at Texas Transportation Institute says it would have met standards in place at that time. Bridge standards were changed sometime after that, in the 1970s.

Channel 2 Investigates reviewed a federal government database that rates bridges and found the railing was listed as not meeting current standards.

The inspection from 2012 listed railings in both directions with a rating of "0".

Corresponding language for a rating of "0" states "inspected feature does not meet current acceptable standards or a safety feature is required and none is provided."

Lance Bullard, of the Texas Transportation Institute at Texas A&M, said the rating just means that the rail has not been put through modern day testing.
"Just because it's an older bridge rail doesn't make it unsafe, and certainly, standards evolve over time, and the things we're going today and the history and knowledge we gain over time, we incorporate newer elements in designs but that doesn't make the only designs unsafe," he said via a Skype interview with Channel 2's Jace Larson.

A representative for the Texas Department of Transportation in Houston, the agency tasked with inspecting the bridge and guardrail, denied repeated requests for an on camera interview with Channel 2 investigates.

In an email, communications director Raquelle Lewis stated it would be irresponsible to prematurely comment on the roadway's conditions while their review is underway.

"Our review process will include at a minimum: a thorough review of all relevant documentation on the bridge in question and related bridges in the district; physical inspection and inventory of the bridge in question and other bridges with similar features; review of current and past design standards and safety specifications relevant to the facility; review of any past incidents at this location and as needed consultation with industry professionals/specialists to explore any needed modifications and/or recommended changes," Lewis wrote in the email.

Lewis said a subsequent inspection of that bridge was conducted in 2014 but would not release the records relating to that inspection.

She cited a federal law and claim that the agency was blocked from releasing any inspection records on the bridge based on the law.

The 33 in high railing at the crash site did meet safety criteria when it was installed according to federal officials.

Bullard said there are newer rail models that have been put through newer testing methods. However, no bridge rails have been tested specifically for crashes involving school buses.

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