Employee Dies After Being Crushed At Tour Bus Depot
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ARLINGTON (CBSDFW.COM) - Information continues to come out of Arlington where there was a fatal tour bus/pedestrian accident happened this morning.
Dan Dipert tour bus employee Philemon McLean was killed after he became pinned between two tour buses.
It is believed McLean parked one of the buses, got out, and began talking with a co-worker. At some point the pair apparently noticed that the recently parked bus had started rolling. McLean reportedly was fatally injured after he ran toward the bus to try to and jump inside to stop it.
McLean was pinned against the side of the bus before he could get inside and was pronounced dead at the scene.
There were no passengers on either bus.
Family members say McLean had worked at the company for two years and enjoyed his job cleaning and maintaining the tour buses. When asked to describe him the family said McLean was a church-going man, a family man, and was always willing to help other people.
McLean's nephew, Howard McLean, said his uncle had just celebrated his 64th birthday yesterday. "We're asking you all if you'll be praying for us, because unfortunately he lost his sister two weeks ago. He just flew up to New York two weeks ago to bury his sister. So, who would have thought this tragedy would happen?"
Arlington police continue to investigate the accident. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) are investigating the incident as an industrial accident and will try and determine if it was caused by mechanical or operator failure.
Dan Dipert Travel and Transportation issued the following statement Friday afternoon:
Dan Dipert Coaches is a family-owned business founded in 1972. We pride ourselves in our safety culture and have been recognized nationally for our efforts. Unfortunately, we are sad to report the first fatality experienced by our company in its 45 year history. Today we lost a valued employee, Philemon McLean. Phil turned 64 yesterday and had been employed with Dan Dipert just short of three years.
The circumstances of his death are still being investigated but we believe it to be an accident. We are cooperating fully with the investigators. Our hearts are broken and our prayers are with Phil's family and friends as they grieve his loss.
According to public safety records, the company has been crash free for at least the last two years.
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