Phoenix, AZ : Driver claimed brakes failed in fatal I-10 bus crash, passenger's attorney says on Wednesday, 31st August, 2016

The unlicensed driver of a bus that caused a fatal Interstate 10 crash last weekend was heard by a passenger claiming afterward that brake failure led to the wreck, the passenger's attorney said.

Meanwhile, an employee for SERVPRO, a company that does restoration of water-damaged buildings, confirmed the company has been finding workers for Baton Rouge restoration through a firm co-owned by a St. Tammany Parish constable and an Arkansas legislator. That second firm, WRS, is facing questions as it blames an independent headhunter for organizing the bus trip.

And a roommate of the driver said Wednesday that the man had driven for the same bus company before, though the roommate was not sure on how many occassions.

The driver, 37-year-old Denis Yasmir Amaya-Rodriguez, is an undocumented Honduran man who was driving without a license and has a history of traffic violations. He faces several charges and is being held in St. John the Baptist Parish jail on a $1.1 million bond.

Cristian Silva, the attorney who is representing three bus passengers, said one of his clients heard the driver after the crash claim that the brakes failed before the bus plowed into several vehicles, killing two people and injuring 33 others.

Silva, an attorney for Silva Law Firm in Harvey who practices immigration and personal injury law, said he had not yet finished gathering details from his clients about the crash, including how the bus trip for 30 to 40 workers had been organized.

A second attorney, Arthur Schott of Riguer Silva, LLC, with offices in New Orleans and Kenner, said he is representing six other passengers from the bus. He had yet to speak with his clients as of Wednesday (Aug. 31), he said. Both attorneys did not name the passengers they are representing.

Silva said his clients suffered injuries in the crash that claimed the lives of St. John Fire District Chief Spencer Chauvin and Jermaine Starr, 21, of Moss Point, Miss. Silva said the three passengers approached him Monday to see whether he might be able to help them locate a doctor and assist in securing compensation to pay for medical bills.

Silva said a woman who he's representing hurt her back so badly that he had to visit her at her apartment, where she was unable to get up from the sofa. The other clients have varying degrees of injuries, Silva said.

Once they've received medical treatment, Silva said he plans to determine who is at fault for the crash and to have his clients compensated for their injuries. He said his clients could be entitled to workers compensation, but that calculating how much they could recoup would be difficult since they had yet to reach Baton Rouge to start work.

"They're hurt, so first and foremost is for them to get better," Silva said. "Whoever is at fault in this accident, my clients have a right to be recovered for their pain and suffering. There might be a workers compensation angle to it as well."

Federal authorities are investigating a transportation company apparently run out of an Old Jefferson house that officials said owned the party bus that plowed into several vehicles on I-10 Sunday. Christian Lombardo is listed on secretary of state records as the registered agent and sole officer of the company, Kristina's Transportation LLC/AM Party Bus.

Lombardo said over the phone Monday that he was still "gathering facts" and was not prepared to comment. As of Wednesday, he had not responded to additional messages seeking comment.

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Driver claimed brakes failed in fatal I-10 bus crash, passenger's attorney says