Investigators Still Have Unanswered Questions About Charter Bus Crash

Bus May Have Had Brake Problems

Authorities are looking into the fact that the bus that the kids wereon may have had brake problems.

Harry Harrell says bus driver Darol Britt came into his repair shop,Smith InternationalTruck Center, last Thursday, the day beforethe accident.

"He came in to tell me that he needed some repairs on his bus, and heasked if we did any brake work, and I said, 'Yes, sir,'" he says. "Hesaid that soon he was going to have to get the brakes replaced."

Britt also went to Al's Truck Service in Fayetteville. A DOTinvestigator was at the shop on Monday, asking for paperwork associatedwith Britt's visit.

Finding information about Britt has been difficult. His address islisted as Graysville Lane in Fayetteville, but a neighbor says Britt hasnot lived at the address for more than a year.

Britt has two caraccidents on his record - one in 1986 and theother in 1996. However, there are no points on his license.

Charter Bus Company Conducts Its Own Investigation

The insurer of the charter company involvedin the bus crash started its own investigation.

AMA Toursbooked twobuses for the trip.Westport Insurance wants to verify whenAMA's policy was written and when it took effect.The school system has a certificate which theythought covered them fully. Now, it will scruntize its charter usepolicy.

"As soon as we receive the report from theFederal Motor Carriers Safety Administration,we'll take a look at that, and we'll look at whatwe're doing and see if any recommendations theymay have for us," says Sara Piland, spokeswoman for Cumberland CountySchools.

Several Cumberland County schools still haveplans to use charter buses from the schoolsystem's approved list, including AMA.The company plans to hold a news conference10 a.m. Tuesday and talk about the incident.