Louisiana residents may have read media reports about an accident involving a truck and bus that claimed the lives of 10 people and injured 39 others in April 2014. The accident occurred on a rural stretch of Interstate 5 in California. Five of those killed were high school students from Los Angeles who were on a college recruitment trip.
According to accident investigators, the bus and truck accident was caused by the driver of a Federal Express box truck that struck the bus head-on after crossing into the path of oncoming traffic. Both vehicles were badly damaged by a fire that erupted after the collision, and the drivers of both vehicles lost their lives in the crash. This left investigators with little evidence to determine why the box truck had strayed out of its lane. Investigators said that an unknown medical condition or fatigue may have played a role, but they were unable to produce conclusive evidence to support these theories.
The probe into the crash lasted over a year, and investigators examined the possibility that mechanical failure could have led to the FedEx driver losing control of the box truck. Impairment and cellphone use were ruled out as the bodies of both drivers tested negative for alcohol and drugs and their mobile phone records revealed that they were not on a phone call or texting at the time of the crash.
Accidents involving heavy commercial vehicles often result in death or catastrophic injuries, and the causes of these collisions may not always be immediately apparent. A personal injury attorney seeking civil remedies on behalf of those injured in truck accidents may closely scrutinize police reports and witness statements for evidence of negligent behavior. An attorney may also pursue litigation against trucking companies when drivers are pressured into spending more time behind the wheel than regulations permit.
Source: Business Insider, “FedEx truck driver deemed responsible for a crash that killed 10”, Olga Grigoryants, May 22, 2015
