One person was killed and eight others were seriously injured early Monday morning when a Victor Valley Transit Authority (VVTA) bus hit a tractor-trailer that was stopped in the road with no lights on.
About the VVTA Bus Crash
According to the Victor Valley Daily Press, the bus was traveling along Fort Irwin Road towards Fort Irwin when it collided with a five-ton tractor-trailer that had stopped near the army post.
VVTA Executive Director Kevin Kane clams DriveCam video shows that the truck had stopped in the right lane of Fort Irwin Road and had not pulled over to the shoulder. Further, Kane alleges that the truck was unlit and blended in with the dark, early morning horizon.
The collision resulted in the death of Dail Keiper, a man said to be in his 60s, and the serious injury of at least eight others.
Fort Irwin officials stated that the injured were transported to Weed Army Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center and Loma Linda University Medical Center – the bus driver was among the injured. Two soldiers were also injured in the crash.
Because the crash occurred on federal land, it is being investigated by the Fort Irwin Department of Emergency Services and overseen by Fort Irwin personnel.
Company Vehicle Crash Statistics
Following Information provided by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA):
- There were 3,702 fatal accidents involving large trucks and buses in 2012.
- This marks an increase from 2010 and 2011 when 3,512 fatal accidents and 3,593 fatal accidents were recorded respectively.
- Speeding was the number one driver-related cause for trucking accidents resulting in the death of an occupant.
- The top 10 states for large truck and bus fatalities in 2012 were:
- Texas (589 deaths)
- California (277 deaths)
- Florida (231 deaths)
- Pennsylvania (177 deaths)
- Ohio (159 deaths)
- Georgia (158 deaths)
- Illinois (134 deaths)
- North Carolina (129 deaths)
- New York (127 deaths)
- Indiana (116 deaths)
