What a horrible, terrifying accident. My condolences to all concerned.
It is very interesting they say the truck was already on fire. This was before impact with the bus, correct? Or maybe they are just confused about what they saw. That one picture that is out there is heart stopping, I’ve never seen anything like it. It is amazing that anyone survived.
What would make a truck catch on fire? Could this have been mechanical failure rather than the driver driving like a lunatic? I was very, very surprised to hear it was a Fed Ex truck involved, I would think those guys would be the best of the best.
That part about the fire really makes you sit up and take notice. My first thought was something in the packages; some kind of hazardous material that shouldn’t have been shipped this way.
It was a double load set up which are dangerous and sway non stop if you’re been stuck behind them on the road.
The Ca I-5 is very dangerous design and needs to be widening and a dividing wall .
I read this truck design causes heat to build in the back tires.
“What would make a truck catch on fire? Could this have been mechanical failure rather than the driver driving like a lunatic?”
I doubt the driver was driving like a “lunatic”. It is possible he was dead at that point. AS to your fire question the new emission systems on trucks can generate some high heat. That is also a possibility.
He also could have had a stroke or heart attack.
Don’t know whether it was a company driver or a lease on driver. Many of those lease guys simply floor it while the company drivers are limited by their truck’s governor. The lese drivers used to pass me and everyone else on the interstates in the Midwest.
It’s possible the tractor hit a culvert in the median on his way across and ruptured the fuel tank causing the fire to erupt prior to hitting the bus.
That caught my attention too...”already on fire”, possible exploding package???, that set all the other packages on fire? Hopefully, there will be an investigation into that possibility?