Children of bus driver in California crash speak of mother’s heroism
Jordan and Jordayna Lealao-Taiao say that survivors of the tour bus-FedEx truck crash on April 10 tell them that they might not have survived if it wasn’t for their mother. Jordan adds that the investigation into the collision so far seems to indicate that his mother brought the impact of the crash onto her side of the bus.
SACRAMENTO, Calif. — Jordan and Jordayna Lealao-Taiao, the son and daughter of Tala Lealao-Taiao, the tour bus driver who was among the 10 people killed in the April 10 collision with a FedEx truck, spoke with KXTV about receiving the tragic news of their mother’s death and the comfort they have found in hearing the stories of survivors.
Tala, who used to be a school bus driver, is remembered as a hero by her children; survivors of the crash told Jordan and Jordayna that they might not have survived the accident if it wasn’t for their mother, according to KXTV.
Jordan told the news outlet that the investigation into the collision so far seems to indicate that his mother brought the impact of the crash onto her side of the bus.
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