NTSB issues preliminary report on motorcoach-FedEx truck crash
The FedEx truck, traveling southbound on Interstate 5, drove through the center median and entered the northbound traffic lanes of the interstate, where it collided with a passenger car, which rotated counterclockwise and departed the highway. The FedEx vehicle then hit the motorcoach, both vehicles departed the highway and a post-crash fire ensued.
WASHINGTON, D.C. — The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released a preliminary report on a crash involving a motorcoach and FedEx truck that occurred near Orland, Calif., and killed 10 passengers on April 10.
According to the NTSB, a truck tractor with two 28-foot trailers operated by FedEx Corp. was traveling southbound on Interstate 5 (I-5) in Orland at the same time a motorcoach, operated by Silverado Stages Inc., and occupied by a driver, 43 high school students and three adult chaperones, was traveling northbound on I-5 in the right traffic lane.
The FedEx vehicle moved to the left and entered the center median, drove through it and entered the northbound traffic lanes of I-5, where it collided with the left rear portion of a passenger car. The car was occupied by a driver and one passenger, and had just passed the motorcoach and moved back into the right lane of northbound I-5. The car rotated counterclockwise and departed the highway on the east side.
Following the impact with the passenger car, the FedEx vehicle collided with the motorcoach, both vehicles departed the highway and a post-crash fire ensued. The fire consumed the FedEx vehicle and partially burned the motorcoach.
The drivers of the FedEx vehicle and the motorcoach, as well as eight motorcoach passengers, were killed as a result of the crash. The other motorcoach passengers were injured to varying degrees, and the occupants of the car received minor injuries.
The FedEx vehicle had departed from the FedEx facility in Sacramento, Calif., at about 10 a.m. The motorcoach, part of a chartered trip that began in Los Angeles, was taking high school students to Humboldt University in Arcata, Calif., for a campus tour. The motorcoach had made a scheduled stop in Sacramento, Calif., where a replacement driver took over operation of the vehicle.
NTSB's preliminary report on the accident is available here.
More Safety
Minneapolis School Zone Pilot Cuts Speeding 41% with Low-Cost Street Design Changes
In a pilot project in Minnesota, two school-area intersections had low-cost, temporary road and traffic flow improvements made to measure the impact on roadway and student safety. Here's what they found.
Read More →
Sitestream, Safety Vision Partner with Connecticut City to Launch School Bus Stop-Arm Camera Program
The new enforcement initiative combines camera technology and violation management software to document illegal school bus passing, encourage driver compliance, and enhance student safety.
Read More →
From Reactive to Proactive: Making Every Ride Visible
Smart technology only delivers its full value when it works together. See how Catalyst connects proven industry platforms to move student transportation from reactive to proactive.
Read More →
HAAS Alert’s Safety Cloud Warns Motorists of Stopped School Buses
Through a transponder or Samsara connection, the product lets school bus fleets send advance warnings to approaching drivers through in-vehicle alerts.
Read More →
HopSkipDrive Reports Progress on Safety Advisory Council
More than a year after forming the council, independent safety experts have helped shape new rider-safety features and policy progress, with a new goal to address rider behavior.
Read More →
What the 2026 National School Bus Safety Month Resolution Means for Student Transportation
The bipartisan resolution highlights illegal school bus passing, student safety during loading and unloading, and the need for driver training and public education.
Read More →
School Bus Stop-Arm Violations Decline 53% Across Verra Mobility Programs
Verra Mobility shares how school bus stop-arm cameras and school zone safety programs are changing driver behavior, reducing violations, and protecting students.
Read More →
Most Bus Crashes Aren’t Your Fault. Here’s How to Prove It.
A guide for what to do in between a school bus crash and a claim: what to preserve, who to notify, and how to keep the facts available when they matter.
Read More →
National School Bus Safety Week 2026: Tips, Toolkits & Resources to Keep Students Safe
School bus safety takes more than awareness. Explore expert tips, enforcement strategies, and free resources to help protect students on every ride.
Read More →
2 Killed, Dozens Injured in Florida School Bus Crash
A multi-vehicle collision caused a Polk County school bus carrying 37 students to overturn on its way to Winter Haven High School.
Read More →