Head-On Collision Between Transit Bus and Pickup Truck on Highway 99W Left Six People Dead, 1 Injured in Tehama County
TEHAMA COUNTY, CALIFORNIA (January 16, 2026) – Six people were killed and one person was injured in a Tehama County bus accident on Highway 99W by Gyle Road.
Tehema County officials are saying that the accident took place around 10:00 AM on Wednesday morning. The transit bus was heading down the road when it was hit head-on by a gray Toyota Tacoma that crossed into opposing lanes of traffic.
The force of the impact caused the transit bus to catch fire. Firefighters and paramedics were called to the scene of the accident to help all of the victims.
Sadly, the driver of the Toyota died due to their injuries. The driver of the bus and four passengers were also killed in the crash.
One other passenger was injured and transported to the hospital. A full investigation into the cause of the accident remains ongoing at this time.
Liability for Tehama County Bus Accidents
Drivers must exercise due care to avoid collisions with other vehicles. This necessitates that they maintain a safe speed at all times. According to California Vehicle Code 22350, “No person shall drive a vehicle upon a highway at a speed greater than is reasonable or prudent having due regard for weather, visibility, the traffic on, and the surface and width of, the highway, and in no event at a speed which endangers the safety of persons or property.” Several other factors besides speed could contribute to a car accident.
- Fatigue plays a major role in many car accidents. In fact, driving while fatigued can be just as dangerous as driving while intoxicated.
- A large portion of fatal car accidents involved an intoxicated driver. When many drivers do not understand is that a variety of substances could impair their ability to operate their vehicle safely.
- Car accidents may be the result of a driver that loses control of their vehicle due to overcorrecting after a sharp turn.
There is a presumption of negligence on the part of any driver that crosses into opposing lanes of traffic and collides with another vehicle. Drivers must maintain their vehicle in a single lane of traffic and only turn when it is reasonably safe to do so. Depending on the facts of any case, liability for a collision could extend beyond any driver deemed to be at fault. This may be the case if the driver that caused an accident was working at the time of the collision.
Steps to Take After Tehama County Bus Accidents
Bus accidents remain a major cause of preventable injury and death in the United States. According to The Journalist’s Resource, “on average, about 63,000 buses [of all kinds] are involved in an accident each year; about 14,000 result in an injured person, and 325 result in a fatal injury. About 50 passengers (including the driver) are killed, on average, in a given year.” Any person injured in a bus accident should take several steps to protect their rights.
- Accident Report: The accident report for the incident should be sought as soon as possible. This report can be useful in a variety of different ways.
- Eyewitnesses: The contact information of eyewitnesses should be gathered. Ideally, eyewitnesses should give their side of the story while the events are still fresh in their mind.
- Surveillance Footage: Any surveillance footage for the accident should be collected. In particular, buses tend to have cameras that capture accidents they are involved in.
- Legal Review: The family of any person who died in a bus accident should contact an experienced bus accident attorney. An attorney can review the unique facts of your case and let you know what your legal options are.
Investigating Tehama County Bus Accidents
We at Samer Habbas & Associates PC extend our deepest sympathies to all of the families affected by this horrific Tehama County bus accident. Any person who may have more information about what happened should reach out to the California Highway Patrol. This was a preventable tragedy that should not have taken place. There needs to be a thorough investigation into what went wrong.
Do you need more information about a Tehama County bus accident? Our team of bus accident attorneys is here for you. We are committed to helping victims understand their rights and protecting those rights through skilled advocacy. Whether you just have legal questions or need any type of assistance, we are here to serve your needs. You are always welcome to reach out to us anytime at 949-727-9300.
