A horrific accident near Sacramento, California on April 10 has killed at least ten people, including five high school students who were en route to tour a college campus. The busload of students and chaperones was travelling northbound on Interstate 5 when a FedEx freight truck in the southbound lanes crossed over the median and slammed head on into the bus, causing explosions and starting both vehicles on fire.
According to reports by CNN and the Los Angeles Times, the students, who were high school seniors from various schools within the Los Angeles Unified School District, were on a trip to visit Humboldt State College and tour the school. The crash occurred about 100 miles north of Sacramento, near Orland, California at approximately 5:00 PM. For an unknown reason, the freight truck veered into oncoming traffic, sideswiped another vehicle, and struck the bus head on. According to witnesses, both vehicles were on fire almost immediately after the collision, and a series of explosions occurred shortly after the crash.
Several bus passengers were able to escape through emergency exits or by breaking windows, but many were unable to get out of the burning bus. Some that did manage to escape were severely burned by the flames. The crash killed both the driver of the bus and the driver of the freight truck, as well as eight passengers on the bus, including five students and three chaperones. The driver and passengers in the other vehicle that was involved suffered only minor injuries. Police report that at least 31 people were injured, and survivors were transported to seven different hospitals.
Recovering From the Person Who Causes the Accident
When a tragedy like this occurs, and results in so much loss to so many different people, it can be difficult for the victims and their families to know how to react to the entire event. Victims can face medical costs and decisions, funeral expenses, loss of work, permanent disabilities or the loss of a loved one. Trying to find out who is at fault in a New Mexico semi-truck accident and asking for compensation is the last thing that should be on a victim’s mind when in a horrible situation like this. A skilled personal injury attorney can help the victims of crashes to focus on healing and getting back to normal, while the lawyer works as hard as possible to get the damages that their clients deserve.
Causation in New Mexico Truck Accidents
The cause of last week’s accident is still under investigation, but it is possible that the driver of the freight truck fell asleep at the wheel or became distracted. Maybe alcohol or drugs were involved, or he could have had a seizure. What if the driver was alert during the accident, but a mechanical failure was the cause? It can be difficult to find out exactly who is at fault in an accident, but innocent passengers who are injured or the families of those killed in a crash should receive compensation regardless.
Have You Been Involved in a New Mexico Truck Accident?
If you or a loved one have been injured or killed in a New Mexico truck accident, it is important to make the right decisions to make your recovery as easy as possible. The skilled New Mexico accident attorneys at the Fine Law Firm specialize in accidents involving semi-trucks and large vehicles. The Fine law firm has dedicated and professional attorneys that know how to argue New Mexico accident cases and will do all the work that is necessary to get their clients what they deserve. We handle all types of personal injury and wrongful death cases, and are happy to talk about your case at no cost to you. If you have questions about an accident, give us a call at (505)889-3463 and schedule a consultation today, or contact us through our website.
More Blog Posts:
Semi-Truck Crash near Albuquerque Ruptures Tanker, Closes Interstate 40, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, April 4, 2014.
Utah Woman Hit By Semi Truck As She Crosses the Street, New Mexico Truck Accident Lawyer Blog, March 4, 2014.