Company operating bus involved in fatal Pa. Turnpike crash has had only minor violations in past 2 years

The bus company that operates the bus involved in a multi-vehicle fatal crash early Sunday on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Mt. Pleasant Township had a satisfactory safety review, no recent crashes and only minor violations in the past two years, records show.

State police spokesman Stephen Limani identified the bus company as Z&D Tours out of Rockaway, N.J.

Company officials could not be reached for comment.

The New York Times reported that Z&D owner Chen Dan Yu said the bus was carrying 56 passengers and was headed to multiple destinations in Ohio.

Z&D Tours had a satisfactory rating at the time of its last federal compliance review in November 2018, according to records from the Department of Transportation’s Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. The company has eight vehicles and 15 drivers, according to the report.

The report, which includes two years’ worth of inspections and crash history, indicates that none of the company’s vehicles was involved in reportable crashes during that time. Inspectors found three violations over the course of 12 inspections during that time.

The last violation was reported June 4, when a Z&D driver traveling in Pennsylvania was cited for lane restriction violations and speeding 11 to 14 mph over the speed limit.

In November 2018, inspectors issued two vehicle maintenance violations for one of Z&D’s vehicles: one for inadequate emergency exit markers and one for a non-working headlight. Another bus was cited several days later for inadequate exit signs as well.