NTSB Releases Preliminary Report into Fatal Truck-Bus Crash
The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its preliminary report about the April 10 crash between a FedEx Freight truck and a bus in California killing 10.
The National Transportation Safety Board has issued its preliminary report about the April 10 crash between a FedEx Freight truck and a bus in California killing 10.
It outlines events leading up to the crash and gives no indication to the cause. “The information in the report is preliminary and will be supplemented or corrected during the course of the investigation,” said NTSB.
According to the report, the crash happened about 5:40 p.m., local time, when, a 2007 Volvo truck tractor with two 28-foot trailers was traveling southbound in the right lane of Interstate 5 in Orland, California. At the same time, a 2014 motor coach operated by Silverado Stages, occupied by a driver, 43 high school students, and three adult chaperones was traveling northbound on I-5 in the right traffic lane.
“In the vicinity of milepost 26.02, the FedEx combination vehicle moved to the left, departing the southbound traffic lanes and entering the 58-foot wide center median. The vehicle drove through a line of oleander bushes in the center of the median and entered the northbound traffic lanes of I-5,” said the report. “It collided with the left rear portion of a white 2013 Nissan Altima four-door passenger car, occupied by a driver and one passenger, which had just passed the Sentra motor coach and moved back into the right lane of northbound I-5. The Nissan rotated counterclockwise and departed the highway on the east side. Following the impact with the passenger car, the combination vehicle collided with the motor coach, and both vehicles departed the highway to the east.”
NTSB said a post-crash fire then occurred, but it made no mention of eyewitness reports that claimed the truck was on fire before the crash happened. In the days just after the crash, NTSB investigators said they found no evidence to support such claims.
The drivers of both the FedEx Freight truck and motor coach were killed. Eight motor coach passengers were also fatally injured. The remaining passengers received injuries of varying degree. A total of 46 passengers were on the bus. The occupants of the Nissan passenger car received minor injuries.
NTSB said its investigation has determined the FedEx Freight truck originally departed from the FedEx facility in Sacramento, Calif., at about 10:00 a.m. and drove to Weeds, Calif., approximately 49 miles south of the Oregon border, where the driver delivered two trailers. At about 3:30 p.m., the driver picked up two other 28-foot trailers and was en route back to Sacramento when the accident occurred.
The motor coach, part of a chartered trip originating from Los Angeles, Calif., was taking high school students to Humboldt University, in Arcata, Calif., for a tour of the campus. The motor coach had made a scheduled stop in Sacramento, where a replacement driver took over operation of the vehicle.
It will likely be several months before NTSB issues its final report as to the cause of the crash.
Just a few days ago the first known lawsuit stemming from the crash was filed. The $100 million negligence suit was filed in Los Angeles by the attorney representing the mother of a 17-year-old who was one of five students on board the bus that were killed. It names the estate of the FedEx truck driver and the company that owned the bus as defendants.
More Fleet Management

How Innovative Trucking Leaders Turn Change Into an Advantage
As the pace of change accelerates in trucking, the fleets that adapt best have more than the latest technology. They have cultures that embrace improvement.
Read More →
Freight Broker Bonds Just Got Harder to Get. Here's What That Means for Your Fleet.
When it gets harder for a freight broker to prove they are financially sound, the ones who cannot clear that bar get pushed out of the market. And those are exactly the brokers who used to leave motor carriers holding the bag.
Read More →
Long-Awaited Canadian Border Bridge to Open in Detroit
For trucking, the bridge opening should offer immediate improvements in efficiency and reliability, with new customs facilities, expanded inspection capacity, and direct freeway-to-freeway connections.
Read More →
Aurora Rolls Out Next Generation of Driverless Trucks for Commercial Freight
Aurora's latest autonomous trucks it's rolling out with International feature lower-cost hardware designed for a million miles as the company expands commercial driverless freight operations across the U.S. Sun Belt.
Read More →
Freight Tonnage Down, Rates up, as Lower Capacity Powers Trucking Recovery
The recovery from the freight recession continues to be driven by reduction in capacity rather than by increased demand.
Read More →
Think Your Trucking Fleet Isn't Using Much AI? Think Again
Shadow AI — the use of unauthorized artificial intelligence tools at work — is becoming increasingly common, putting sensitive company data at risk. Learn how trucking fleets can protect sensitive data while embracing AI.
Read More →
ArcBest Consolidates Brands, Cuts Workforce
The company will bring three business units under the ArcBest brand, eliminate about 2% of positions, and expects the changes to generate $40 million in annual savings.
Read More →
Trucking Fleets Faced Record Operating Costs During Third Year of Freight Recession
ATRI's annual operational cost report shows carriers trimmed fleets, delayed equipment purchases, and ran older trucks as expenses continued to outpace freight rates.
Read More →
Michelin Adds AI Assistant to MyConnectedFleet Platform
Michelin’s new generative AI tool delivers instant fleet insights, helping managers analyze fuel use, tire maintenance, vehicle status, and operational performance without manually creating reports.
Read More →
LytxOne Platform Now Features AI, Compliance, and Asset Tracking Tools
New enhancements add AI-powered insights, asset tracking, compliance automation, and configurable privacy controls to Lytx's all-in-one fleet management platform.
Read More →
