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Double Fatal Shuttle Van Crash Raises Safety Concerns

BOSTON (CBS) – After two people were killed in a shuttle van crash near Logan Airport, some passengers told WBZ-TV they'll reconsider wearing seatbelts on future rides.

Two Texas residents died early Wednesday morning after a crash on Route 1A north near the Ted Williams Tunnel. Both were ejected from the Hampton Inn shuttle van and died.

A WBZ-TV producer rode the courtesy shuttle from the Hampton Inn on Wednesday afternoon. The vehicle was equipped with seat belts, but none of the passengers were using them.

Passengers awaiting their courtesy shuttles at Logan Airport said they never really think about seat belts while traveling in those types of vehicles.

"I don't even remember most of them having seat belts, much less putting them on," said Lee Larsen, visiting from Milwaukee.

Mark Elias, an automotive journalist visiting from West Palm, Florida, admitted he also does not buckle up on shuttles. But after hearing details of the overnight crash, he checked to make sure his courtesy vehicle had seat belts.

"I write about cars, I know the hazards," Elias said. "In light of what you told me about the accident, I'll probably be checking again."

Auto safety expert Sean Kane said shuttles fall into a regulatory gap. He added that passenger ejections are common when there is a crash involving a shuttle.

"They don't have to meet some of the same safety standards so one of the issues you see is when there are crashes, there are catastrophic events," Kane said.

"We are deeply saddened by this tragic accident and our thoughts and prayers are with the families of all who have been impacted. We are cooperating fully with police authorities," Revere Hampton Inn general manager Matthew Harrison told WBZ-TV in an email.

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