Yesterday, a wake was held for two victims of last Saturday's Chinatown bus crash in the Bronx. Ock Thling Wong, 83, and his wife, May Ling Wong, had emigrated from China over 50 years ago; NY1 reports they had "many children and grandchildren, and were well-known in their community." His nurse said, "He's very nice. Both of them are very very nice. just the nicest people you can meet. And they're down to Earth. And it's such a tragedy for them—for the family."
Fifteen people were killed, while 17 other passengers and the driver survived. Many of the victims were immigrants. The bus was coming from Mohegan Sun to Chinatown when it overturned, slid hundreds of feet and then collided with a highway sign pole, which then sheared the top of the bus off, killing some people and maiming others. The crash is still being investigated; the driver claims he swerved after a tractor trailer clipped him but it's suspected the driver actually fell asleep. Driver Ophadell Williams' commercial license has been suspended.
This fatal crash as well another earlier this week on the NJ Turnpike have renewed lawmakers' attempts to insist on driver training and more regulations on the "cheap" bus industry. One lawyer who deals with bus accidents told WABC 7, "If you're putting new buses on the road to attract customers and you need to save money you are going to save it behind the scenes."
