2 important Safety Recalls on School Buses!

RECALL #1 ___________________________________________________ Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year: BLUE BIRD / ALL AMERICAN 2010 Manufacturer: BLUE BIRD BODY COMPANY Mfr’s Report Date: JUL 22, 2009 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V286000 NHTSA Action Number: N/A Component: STRUCTURE:BODY Potential Number of Units Affected: 35 Summary: BLUE BIRD IS RECALLING 35 MODEL YEAR 2010 ALL AMERICAN SCHOOL BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM MAY 13 THROUGH JUNE 17, 2009. INSUFFICIENT RIVETS WERE INSTALLED IN THE REAR HEADLINER PANEL. THESE BUSES FAIL TO CONFORM WITH THE JOINT STRENGTH REQUIREMENTS OF FEDERAL MOTOR VEHICLE SAFETY STANDARD NO. 221, “SCHOOL BUS BODY JOINT STRENGTH.” Consequence: BUS PASSENGERS MAY SUSTAIN INJURIES IN THE EVENT OF A VEHICLE CRASH. Remedy: BLUE BIRD WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT AUGUST 25, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT BLUE BIRD AT 1-478-422-2242. Notes: BLUE BIRD’S RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. R09PL. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV . Follow link below for more info: http://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/recalls/results.cfm?rcl_id=09V286&searchtype=quicksearch&summary=true&refurl=email RECALL #2 _______________________________________________ Vehicle Make / Model: Model Year: THOMAS BUILT BUSES / MVP-EF 2010 Manufacturer: DAIMLER TRUCKS NORTH AMERICA Mfr’s Report Date: JUL 22, 2009 NHTSA CAMPAIGN ID Number: 09V287000 PE09023 NHTSA Action Number: PE09023 Component: STRUCTURE Potential Number of Units Affected: 35 Summary: DAIMLER TRUCKS IS RECALLING 35 MODEL YEAR 2010 MVP-EF AND HDX THOMAS BUILT TRANSIT BUSES MANUFACTURED FROM OCTOBER 22, 2008 THROUGH MARCH 25, 2009 THE EMERGENCY EXIT PUSH-OUT WINDOW MAY BE INSTALLED IMPROPERLY RESULTING IN BINDING OF THE WINDOW. Consequence: IN THE EVENT OF AN EMERGENCY EVACUATION, BINDING EMERGENCY EXIT WINDOWS MAY DELAY EVACUATION AND MAY INCREASE THE RISK OF PERSONAL INJURY TO THE VEHICLE OCCUPANTS. Remedy: DAIMLER TRUCKS WILL NOTIFY OWNERS AND REPAIR THE BUSES FREE OF CHARGE. REPAIRS WILL BE PERFORMED BY DAIMLER TRUCKS DEALERSHIPS. THE SAFETY RECALL IS EXPECTED TO BEGIN ON OR ABOUT SEPTEMBER 24, 2009. OWNERS MAY CONTACT DAIMLER TRUCKS TOLL-FREE AT 1-800-547-0712. Notes: DAIMLER TRUCKS RECALL CAMPAIGN NO. FL-555. OWNERS MAY ALSO CONTACT THE NATIONAL HIGHWAY TRAFFIC SAFETY ADMINISTRATION’S VEHICLE SAFETY HOTLINE AT 1-888-327-4236 (TTY 1-800-424-9153), OR GO TO HTTP://WWW.SAFERCAR.GOV Mike Mason 305-527-3088 Mike@MikeMason.Biz www.MikeMason.Biz Investigative Reporting Video Resume: http://bit.ly/Z512e Blog: http://investigativereportermikemason.blogspot.com/

The investigation that earned me an Alfred I. duPont award.

CBS News correspondent Bob Scheiffer hosted the awards ceremony in 2006 in NYC

Mike Mason reported serious flaws in bridge design 4 months before collapse

 

The following is a newspaper article published by the Saint Petersburg Times regarding my series of reports on a shoddy expressway project in Tampa. The series of reports earned me several awards including an Emmy, Associated Press, Society of Professional Journalists and the prestigious Alfred I. duPont Award.

To view a clip of the report and to watch a panel discussion about the investigation visit Columbia University’s website: http://www.columbia.edu/cu/news/media/06/404_dupontAwardsWinnersCircle/

Lane Ranger
T.V. reporter leads charge in Crosstown crusade
By JAY CRIDLIN
Published October 8, 2004

——————————————————————————–

There are plenty of reasons to watch the nightly ABC newscast on WFTS-Ch. 28.

There’s man-on-the-scene Don Germaise, who may still be sopping wet after chasing Charley, Frances, Ivan and Jeanne across the state. And there’s anchor Wendy Ryan, whose “Dirty Dining” segments are a stone cold hoot. (Is there a guiltier – and more stomach-churning – pleasure than watching Ryan mercilessly rip into one of your favorite restaurants?)

But a lot of Brandon commuters may watch Channel 28 for investigative reporter Mike Mason’s relentless coverage of the Lee Roy Selmon Crosstown Expressway fiasco.

He’s certainly not the only media outlet to have covered the issues that have arisen during construction of the Crosstown’s $350-million elevated bridge between Brandon and Tampa. Just about every television station, radio outlet and print news organization from Plant City to Pass-a-Grille has had something to say about the road’s collapsed piers. Heck, even your trusty Lane Ranger has gotten in on the action.
But each of Mason’s segments are lengthy, full of “uncovered documents” and ambitious source-digging, and usually given a prime-time slot near the top of the newscast.

He has been at the front of the pack on the story for more than a year, first reporting last September on construction flaws inside the concrete foundations supporting the elevated road’s piers that could cause the road to become unstable. He has made bold claims – bolstered by engineering reports and field notes – that Crosstown officials knew in advance of a sinkhole near a pier that collapsed in April.

“I think that our station has clearly led the charge on this story,” said Mason, who has done at least 12 Crosstown stories since July 12, around the time Expressway Authority officials confirmed another unstable second pier for the elevated bridge.

Last week, Crosstown officials announced that up to 31 of 35 analyzed support piers may have been built on unstable soil; when all is said and done, repairs could cost an additional $70-million. The elevated road was supposed to open in summer 2005, but all repairs have been suspended indefinitely.

Mason has clearly managed to get under the skin of those in charge of the project.

If you’ve watched any ABC newscast in the past two months, you’ve probably seen the shot of Mason cornering Tampa-Hillsborough Expressway Authority executive director Pat McCue outside his car, asking why his business cards read “Pat McCue, P.E.,” even though McCue allowed his professional engineer’s license to expire several years ago.

“That’s not a true statement,” McCue says flatly, without looking into the camera. “Excuse me.” McCue later sent Mason an e-mail stating he’d never claimed to perform actual engineering functions for the Expressway Authority.

Mason says his relationship with Crosstown officials isn’t as chilly as it appears onscreen. Still, he says, “I think you can see from the first story to the latest story that we have had a couple of issues.”

So why has Mason, who lives in South Tampa, been so dogged in his coverage of the Crosstown?

“This particular story has resonated with viewers more than any story I’ve recently done,” he says. “Everybody has to drive, obviously. A lot of people drive on the Crosstown, and they see what’s being built, and it’s affecting them on the roadway as well.”

Mason, like most good newsfolk, is quick to tease his future reports.

“We have some exclusive reports coming up that everybody’s going to want to pay attention to,” he says. “We have some inside information that will be exposed in our coming stories.”

As they say in the business: Stay tuned.

- The Lane Ranger is currently stuck in traffic. But he can be reached at cridlin@sptimes.com

Investigative Reporter Mike Mason

I have won the most prestigious awards in the television industry including Columbia University’s Alfred I. DuPont Award, Emmys, National Edward R. Murrow, Investigative Reporters & Editors Certificate (IRE), Associated Press, SPJ among others.

I am known for landing that impossible interview and finding the smoking gun.
On 9/11 I uncovered exclusive information and became the first and only reporter to expose the identities of the Terrorists who hijacked the planes which struck the WTC Towers.

I am now seeking a full time position and have included my Television Reporting Video Resume Link: http://bit.ly/Z512e

You can also check out my Blog: http://investigativereportermikemason.blogspot.com/

Mike Mason
305-527-3088
Mike@MikeMason.Biz

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