Heavy Duty Trucking Logo
MenuMENU
SearchSEARCH

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.

by Staff
April 27, 2014
3 min to read


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.

Ad Loading...

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.

Ad Loading...

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

Illustration of Penske day cab backed into loading dock with graphic of generic charts and graphs and a penske logo.
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeSeptember 17, 2026

Why Private Fleets Are Taking More Freight

Private fleets are putting their own trucks on demanding customers and high-cost lanes as companies seek greater control over service, costs, and capacity.

Read More →
A woman holding a tablet with a screen showing rectangles of various colors
SponsoredSeptember 16, 2026

Color Match Smarter: Tools That Restore & Perform

For fleet managers and collision repair professionals keeping heavy-duty trucks on the road, getting the color right the first time isn't just about appearance — it's about efficiency, turnaround time, and bottom-line results. Discover how today's digital color tools are transforming the repair process from guesswork to precision.

Read More →
Mobile tablet showing Motus screen against highway background with Motus logo
Fleet Managementby StaffSeptember 15, 2026

FMCSA Pauses Biennial-Update Enforcement Amid Motus Transition

Carriers whose updates were due on or after June 1 have more time, while FMCSA works to stabilize its new registration system and warns of phishing sites impersonating its new carrier registration system, Motus.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Geotab Whitepaper Cargo Theft Cover
SponsoredSeptember 14, 2026

2026 Blueprint for Countering Smarter Supply Chain Theft

Cargo theft is no longer just the cost of doing business. It's a multi-billion-dollar criminal enterprise exploiting vulnerabilities across your fleet, drivers, and supply chain.

Read More →
A monitor with a bar graph with a person sitting next to it wearing a headset.
SponsoredSeptember 1, 2026

How Telematics Improves Visibility, Control, and Performance in Refrigerated Fleets

Explore how telematics help refrigerated fleets improve visibility, uptime, efficiency, compliance, and cargo protection across connected cold chain operations.

Read More →
Graphic with U.S. and Canadian flags over background illustration of an ink-stamp that says Tariffs.
Equipmentby Deborah LockridgeAugust 24, 2026

What the U.S.-Canada Trade War Means for Trucking

Escalating U.S.-Canada tariffs could disrupt cross-border freight, reduce truck volumes, raise costs, and create new uncertainty for carriers on both sides of the border.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Fleet Managementby News/Media ReleaseAugust 24, 2026

What Are Trucking’s Top Concerns for 2026?

The American Transportation Research Institute wants to know what's worrying trucking fleet managers, drivers, and other stakeholders in its annual Industry Issues survey.

Read More →
Four men in suits on the National Mall with giant video screen showing capitol building in the background
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 24, 2026

American Trucking Associations Looks for a New Leader

ATA President and CEO Chris Spear abruptly left his job at the association on August 21, at a pivotal time for the trucking industry.

Read More →
The Cyber Stop column header with photo of a smiling driver in truck with a laptop and a wi-fi icon
Fleet ManagementAugust 21, 2026

Public Wi-Fi Cybersecurity Risks: How Truck Drivers and Fleets Can Protect Their Data

Public Wi-Fi can expose truck drivers and fleets to credential theft, malware, and other cyber threats. Here’s how to reduce the risk on the road.

Read More →
Ad Loading...
Woman in white blazer superimposed on background showing a row of Fraley & Schilling truck, plus the HDT Truck Fleet Innovators 2026 logo
Fleet Managementby Deborah LockridgeAugust 19, 2026

For Nicky Cupp, Fleet Innovation Starts With Frustration

HDT Truck Fleet Innovator Nicky Cupp turns everyday pain points at Fraley & Schilling into opportunities for better technology and smarter processes.

Read More →