Bus had improper tire

The bus involved in a crash in Texas this morning that killed 14 people heading to the Marian Days observance in Carthage had an improper tire:

Federal investigators say the blown tire on a charter bus that crashed and killed 15 people had been refitted with a new tread in violation of safety standards.

The National Transportation and Safety Board also said late Friday that the driver of the bus was a 52-year-old who had a commercial license but whose medical certification had expired.

Authorities also said the vehicle should not have been on the road, and other buses from the same company have been pulled from operation.

The Houston bus company was operating under two possible names, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration: Iguala Busmex and Angel Tours. Neither was authorized to be operating buses because of safety violations.

Federal authorities say the companies were told to make improvements before they could operate again. The Texas Department of Transportation has been told if they see any buses on the road under either name to order them off the road.