NTSB Investigators: Tractor-Trailer Did Not Brake Before Collision With Tour Bus
National Transportation Safety Board investigators did not find any signs the FedEx truck that collided with the tour bus in Northern California and killed 10 people braked before the accident. That’s according to a spokesman with the agency.
The big rig was traveling in the southbound lane, and left it at a 10-degree angle. It ran over a 58-foot-wide median and entered the northbound lane with no tire marks left behind.
According to Mark Rosekind with the NTSB, the bus’ tire marks before the impact stretch 145 feet. The marks are an indication that the bus driver took evasive measures to avoid the FedEx truck by braking and steering the bus right.
Rosekind said the collision’s force ejected several of the bus passengers.
The 2014 model bus was only in service for roughly a month and came with seatbelts.
Rosekind said toxicology tests were being done on both drivers to learn if alcohol or drugs played a factor in the accident.
An investigator close to the investigation said the tractor-trailer’s tracking technology was probably destroyed in the fire.
The accident happened April 10 around 5:40 p.m. along Interstate 5 near Orland. The FedEx truck crossed the median, hitting a Nissan Altima and charter bus that was transporting dozens of high school students from Southern California schools to Humboldt State University.
Rosekind said the electronic module in the delivery truck could provide information about its speed and braking. But, with a powerful blaze, the chances of it being destroyed are high.
The comments Rosekind made were in response to a couple’s comments about the FedEx truck being on fire before it crossed the median and slammed into the bus.
Joe and Bobbie Duran were on their way home to Seattle when the accident occurred. They were in front of the charter bus.
Rosekind said the Nissan driver said she saw flames from the truck’s cab before the accident took place. Bobbie said the flames were not from the engine but appeared to be in the cab itself.
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It’s good that it didn’t break. Not so good that it didn’t brake.
I was kinda hoping it didn’t brake.
HAH!
They fixed the headline after flot’s and JK’s comments. It said “break” instead of “brake” previously.
/easily amused 😛