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[XiaNaphryz]

http://www.sfgate.com/news/crime/article/Dreams-dashed-in-fatal-college-tour-bus-crash-5394356.php

ORLAND, Calif. (AP) — It was a busload of opportunity: young, low-income, motivated students, destined to become the first in their families to go to college, journeying from the concrete sprawl of Los Angeles to a remote redwood campus 650 miles north.

Those dreams shattered for some Thursday in an explosive freeway collision that left 10 dead — students, chaperones and both drivers — and dozens hospitalized.

Desperate families awaited word about loved ones Friday, while investigators tried to figure out why a southbound FedEx big rig swerved across the grassy divide of California's key artery before sideswiping a car and slamming into the tour bus, which burst into a furious blaze.

The Serrato family, whose identical twin 17-year-old daughters set off on the adventure on separate buses Thursday, had a panicked, sleepless night. Marisol made it to their destination, Humboldt State University, but there was no word from Marisa, who had been aboard the now-gutted bus.

Friday morning when a sheriff's deputy asked for Marisa's dental records, a grim request made to several families, 23-year-old brother Miguel Serrato said his family was "getting a little bit scared." His mother booked a flight north.

Humboldt alumni Michael Myvett, 29, and his fiancee, Mattison Haywood, who were chaperoning, also were killed. Myvett was a therapist at an autism treatment center.

"He just died," his grandmother Debra Loyd said, her voice breaking with emotion in the early afternoon Friday. "They have already confirmed it."

The bus was among three Humboldt had chartered as part of its two-day Preview Plus program to bring prospective students to tour the Arcata campus, according to university officials. Before launching the event Friday, university Vice President Peg Blake's voice broke as she asked a crowded theater for a moment of silence in honor of everyone affected by the accident.

The CHP and the National Transportation Safety Board were investigating, but warned it could take months to conclude what happened.

Mark Rosekind, an NTSB member, said Friday that the agency would be gathering information over the next one to two weeks. He said it will review whether the stretch of California freeway where the bus was struck should have had a barrier along the median to prevent head-on collisions.

In addition, Rosekind said it will determine whether a fire suppression system recommended but not mandated for buses would have made a difference in the crash.

Most survivors were injured, some with critical burns or broken limbs. Those who made it out said they scrambled through a kicked-out window. One man, apparently an admissions counselor, was in flames and later died. Those who could sprinted, others staggered, in a desperate dash to the opposite side of Interstate 5 before the vehicle exploded.

"We knew we were in major trouble," said Steven Clavijo, a high school senior from Santa Clarita, who was trying to nap when he felt the bus shake before a loud boom.

After he escaped, two more explosions followed. Clavijo and other survivors watched helplessly, knowing their peers were trapped in the inferno.

Explosions of orange flames engulfed both vehicles, and clouds of black smoke billowed into the sky until firefighters doused the fire, leaving behind scorched black hulks of metal. Bodies were draped in blankets inside the burned-out bus.

Both drivers were killed, along with three adult chaperones and five teenage students, according to the California Highway Patrol, which reached the scene shortly after the 5:30 p.m. accident about 100 miles north of Sacramento. Rescuers said the bodies were mostly at the front of the bus, or outside on the ground in front of it.

Humboldt admissions counselor Arthur Arzola, 26, who recruited in the Los Angeles area, was among the dead. His passion for bringing kids to the university was evident on his "Meet the Counselors" webpage: Humboldt "provides all students on campus with incredible opportunities that change the world for the better."

The 44 teenagers aboard, from dozens of different Southern California high schools, were participating in a program that invites prospective low-income or first-generation college students to visit Humboldt. They were supposed to join hundreds more potential students from across California and the West for a long weekend, paired up with existing students and staying in the dorms.

Just horrific.

 

[Magwik]

Most survivors were injured, some with critical burns or broken limbs. Those who made it out said they scrambled through a kicked-out window

sounds horrible. I wish the best to the families of the deceased and of those who survived.

 

[Arkos]

Heard about this they still don't know why the truck crossed the median?

 

[Like the hat?]

God damn

 

[ramuh]

Saw this on Nightly News. We will never know but I wonder if the driver fell asleep or something. I also wonder if Fedex owns the trucks or trucking company that actually ships there stuff over the US. For Liability reasons. It's really sad all around with those kids just checking out a college.

 

[hunnies28]

This is horrible. Why did I read this? Ugh.

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Heard about this they still don't know why the truck crossed the median?

Still too early to tell I think. They didn't even manage to clear the wreckage until the next day.

 

[NomarTyme]

Freaking tragic news.

 

[Watevaman]

am I the only one a little weirded out by the kids smiling/seemingly joking? I know people deal differently with shock but man it seems surreal

 

[789shadow]

Photobombing sign is making light of tragic deaths.

 

[Anon67]

I remember seeing this in TV. My God...the explosion, the people sitting in the front... . Why? WHYYYYYYYY?? Why do these things have to happen??

My condolences for the family and friends of the deceased. RIP. May God help them all.

 

[Stabby McSter]

I got an email from my school about it:

The horrific accident on Interstate 5 Thursday evening near Orland distresses the very soul of the California State University.

A charter bus filled with students, some from the Los Angeles basin, were on their way to visit Humboldt State when the bus they were on collided with a FedEx truck on Interstate 5 near Orland. Ten people were killed, including staff from Humboldt State, and more than 30 people have been injured, some critically, as of this morning.

The proximity of Chico to the accident site meant many students without serious injuries were cared for in the surrounding communities overnight. Presidents Richmond and Zingg have been personally involved. President Richmond traveled the night from Arcata to Chico, visiting injured students in hospitals along the way. The Humboldt campus has been a vital link for parents to connect with students. Humboldt’s staff worked throughout the night to support and comfort the high school students who were on two other buses that were traveling ahead of the accident, and arrived safely in Arcata.

Our campuses prepare for the unimaginable and last night it occurred. Our hearts reach out to the parents, families, friends, colleagues and teachers directly impacted. The CSU family grieves with them. No words can sufficiently express our sorrow.

We extend deep appreciation to the tremendous efforts of the leadership and staff at Humboldt State and Chico State for their responsiveness and partnership, and to the first responders who risk their lives to help others.

I ask the CSU family to hold all in their thoughts and prayers.

 

[Onion_Relish]

That "so close" picture is fucked and the person who took it should feel truly bad about themselves. I like a bit of dark humour, but that shit is way beyond the line of what is appropriate.

 

[WesternHeretic]

Those pictures look likes it's from a war zone.

 

[OrlanisWorks]

I got an email from my school about it:

I'll be expecting that email sometime soon.

Fuckin' tragic.

 

[MercuryLS]

Photobombing sign is making light of tragic deaths.

I thought the same thing, jesus that's heartbreaking.

 

[Mattlikewhoa]

I had seen the video footage of this during the evening news report earlier.

My condolences goes out to the families affected by this accident, it's rather tragic...

 

[Surface of Me]

That "so close" picture is fucked and the person who took it should feel truly bad about themselves. I like a bit of dark humour, but that shit is way beyond the line of what is appropriate.

You assume they purposefully put it in. Dude might of not noticed.

 

[Ekdrm2d1]

I was waiting for this thread.

So sad!

So god damn sad

 

[TarNaru33]

My god... Awkward.

On more serious note, this is quite tragic, it don't need sensationalized wording to make us feel any more worse about the lives lost.

 

[Casimir]

Damn, what a tragedy.

 

[hoverboarder]

You assume they purposefully put it in. Dude might of not noticed.

Just from the one photojournalism course I took, I can tell you that they knew. Every photo submitted is reworked in small ways first in a photo editing program and then approved by several editors. Definitely crosses the line, and just holy shit at this in general. Awful. :/

 

[Mysterious]

Is the Fedex driver at fault here, or is it a freak accident? I assume he died as well, correct?

Sometimes fucked up things just happen for no reason at all. Makes me wish technology (these vehicles) were able to resist fire.

 

[smurfx]

anybody have a list of all the high schools that sent students on these buses?

 

[oc]

anybody have a list of all the high schools that sent students on these buses?

La Sierra High
Adolfo Camarillo High
Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Tech
Ulysses S. Grant Senior High
Oxnard High
Century High
Eastside High
John C. Fremont Senior High
El Monte High
West Ranch High
School for the Visual Arts and Environmental Charter
Manual Arts Senior High
Burroughs High
Mayfair High
Carson Senior High
Cesar E. Chavez Learning Academy
California Academy of Mathematics
Pacifica High
Pioneer High
Phineas Banning Senior High
Norte Vista High
Alliance Media Arts and Entert
Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High
Renaissance Arts Academy
Polytechnic High
Valhalla High
Gompers Preparatory Academy
Animo Inglewood Charter High
Middle College High
Woodrow Wilson Senior High
Palm Desert High
Animo Jackie Robinson Charter
Downey High
Loara High
Marshall Fundamental
Pomona Senior High

I work with some students from Norte Vista High a few times every month. Really sad what happened.

 

[alterno69]

What's with the tasteless writing in the article?

Such an awful tragedy.

 

[kirblar]

Skimmed through article... it did not prepare me for those pictures. Awful.

Publishing that picture without cropping it was 100% in terrible taste.

Seems like every one of these bus accidents ends up coming down to a medical emergency with a driver.

 

[Ekdrm2d1]

La Sierra High
Adolfo Camarillo High
Alliance Judy Ivie Burton Tech
Ulysses S. Grant Senior High
Oxnard High
Century High
Eastside High
John C. Fremont Senior High
El Monte High
West Ranch High
School for the Visual Arts and Environmental Charter
Manual Arts Senior High
Burroughs High
Mayfair High
Carson Senior High
Cesar E. Chavez Learning Academy
California Academy of Mathematics
Pacifica High
Pioneer High
Phineas Banning Senior High
Norte Vista High
Alliance Media Arts and Entert
Susan Miller Dorsey Senior High
Renaissance Arts Academy
Polytechnic High
Valhalla High
Gompers Preparatory Academy
Animo Inglewood Charter High
Middle College High
Woodrow Wilson Senior High
Palm Desert High
Animo Jackie Robinson Charter
Downey High
Loara High
Marshall Fundamental
Pomona Senior High

I work with some students from Norte Vista High a few times every month. Really sad what happened.

:gulp:

Come on... that's horrible

 

[B.K.]

I hope the ones who died died instantly from the impact. I can't think of a much worse way to die than burning to death.

 

[Ekdrm2d1]

Just terrible.

 

[DR2K]

Wow that sign is out of final destination or something. =/

 

[Community Forum]

Just from the one photojournalism course I took, I can tell you that they knew. Every photo submitted is reworked in small ways first in a photo editing program and then approved by several editors. Definitely crosses the line, and just holy shit at this in general. Awful. :/

And of course our local FOX station knows. Took this photo from the broadcast just a few seconds ago.

 

[Ekdrm2d1]

This is so horrible.

 

[smokeandmirrors]

 

[Henchmen21]

Honestly buses are the most unsafe vehicles on the road. No seatbelts except for people in wheelchairs and the driver.

 

[StopMakingSense]

Just now being reported that the couple in the Nissan say the FedEx truck was already on fire before it crashed.

http://4.nbcla.com/1giYZIY

 

[The Real Abed]

Oh my god. This is terrible.

If it was on fire before crashing I wonder what in the world was in the back.

:-(

 

[XiaNaphryz]

Just now being reported that the couple in the Nissan say the FedEx truck was already on fire before it crashed.

http://4.nbcla.com/1giYZIY

Yeah, just heard that a few minutes ago on the local late night news. Engine fire I'm guessing?

 

[Eppy Thatcher]

You've got to be fuckin kidding me with this picture.

 

[tarheel91]

Honestly buses are the most unsafe vehicles on the road. No seatbelts except for people in wheelchairs and the driver.

Because the typical survival rate in a head on collision with a tractor trailor is normally so high.

 

[WorldStar]

the first picture seems unreal

how the fuck did someone manage to snap that photo?

 

[Trojita]

Tragic.

Yeah, just heard that a few minutes ago on the local late night news. Engine fire I'm guessing?

The people interviewed said the fire was coming out of the roof.

 

[FalsettoVibe]

This is so sad.

 

[Windam]

Man this is horrible, all those dreams shattered... RIP.

What the absolute fuck, man.

 

[Moppet13]

Everyone I know from HSU has been post in about this but no one ever posted a link or anything so I was so confused. That's pretty tragic what happened.

 

[SlickShoesRUCrazy]

very tragic. Kids had a bright future.

 

[Portman]

It seems like there isn't an emergency exit on a bus like that (or not the type I'm expecting like on a school bus). That makes me worry for the people in the back in a situation like that, how are they supposed to get out? Although reading the article they must have gotten out from the side if the front was on fire.

 

[The Real Abed]

The people interviewed said the fire was coming out of the roof.

Something that shouldn't have been shipped must have been shipped. Hopefully they figure out what it was. And hopefully it wasn't a bomb or something designed to catch fire on purpose.

 

[IcyBlueStrawberry]

Holy shit that sucks.

The Serrato family, whose identical twin 17-year-old daughters set off on the adventure on separate buses Thursday, had a panicked, sleepless night. Marisol made it to their destination, Humboldt State University, but there was no word from Marisa, who had been aboard the now-gutted bus.

Friday morning when a sheriff's deputy asked for Marisa's dental records, a grim request made to several families, 23-year-old brother Miguel Serrato said his family was "getting a little bit scared." His mother booked a flight north.

I can't imagine how that would feel...

 

[XiaNaphryz]

LA Times has an article up listing the confirmed deceased as well as those unaccounted for:

http://graphics.latimes.com/towergraphic-northern-california-bus-crash/