Authorities: Driver in deadly California bus crash didn't brake before hitting big rig https://t.co/FDrgOO860i pic.twitter.com/AkQoScyxHn
— Fox News (@FoxNews) October 25, 2016
The National Transportation Safety Board has determined the truck driver, bus driver and California DOT were at fault in an October 2016 crash in Palm Springs, Calif., involving a tractor-trailer and a tour bus that resulted in 13 deaths and 31 injuries. The Board also determined the trucker had untreated obstructive sleep apnea, and the bus driver had untreated diabetes and was fatigued, likely due to acute sleep loss, at the time of the crash.
NTSB issued this week a report detailing probable cause of the crash, which included safety recommendations to prevent similar crashes in the future.
NTSB’s conclusion comes just months after FMCSA nixed a rulemaking intended to set hard and fast sleep apnea screening criteria for U.S. truck operators. The apnea rule would have recommended truckers with a BMI of 33 or higher, and who met other qualifiers such as age, be referred for apnea testing. These drivers would then receive a temporary certification, pending the results of the test. The rule likely would also set return-to-service protocol and treatment requirements for drivers diagnosed with sleep apnea.
The truck-bus crash occurred on I-10 westbound on Oct. 23 when a bus carrying 42 passengers struck the back of a stopped 18-wheeler at highway speed. The 2015 International ProStar with 2012 Utility trailer, operated by Tri-State Collision LLC, had been stopped in a construction zone, but the driver did not begin moving again when the lane reopened. The impact killed the bus driver and 12 passengers and injured the truck driver and 30 bus passengers.
