A settlement in the lawsuits following a tragic FedEx truck crash was reached as jury selection began for trial. The FedEx truck crash killed 10 people and injured 36 in Orland, California. Although FedEx claimed it was not responsible for the crash due to the driver suffering an unforeseeable medical emergency, plaintiffs argued there was no medical emergency, and the driver was operating his truck while distracted. The four lawsuits involved in the FedEx crash settlement were the final claims against the company related to the tragedy.
FedEx Truck Crash Killed 10 After Hitting Charter Bus Filled with High School Students
The lawsuits stem from a tragic crash on Interstate 5 in Orland, CA, when a FedEx truck veered from the southbound lanes, crossed a median, and crashed into a Silverado Stages charter bus. That bus was carrying 48 people—including 44 high school students—to Humboldt State University’s Preview Plus program. Five students and five adults, including both drivers involved in the crash, died in the April 10, 2014, crash, while another 36 suffered injuries.
Compounding the tragedy was that the collision caused a fireball with some passengers trapped inside. Seven of the passengers killed survived the initial crash but died of smoke inhalation from the fire, while several other passengers were ejected during the crash.
Terms of FedEx Crash Settlement Confidential
The terms of the settlement with FedEx have been kept confidential, but the settlement officially resolves the last of 46 lawsuits filed in relation to the 2014 crash. The lawsuits alleged the FedEx driver operated his vehicle in an unsafe manner which caused the crash, and claimed the bus company was negligent for not providing adequate emergency exits for passengers.
FedEx argued a medical event caused the crash, which meant the company was not responsible for injuries or wrongful deaths, but plaintiffs maintained there was no evidence of a sudden health problem. The driver of the FedEx truck died of smoke inhalation caused by the fire.
Baum Hedlund Aristei & Goldman encourages people to support the Mattison L. Haywood ‘LoveisKey’ Foundation. Mattison Haywood was one of the volunteer chaperones who tragically died in the Orland crash. Her parents started the foundation to help the less fortunate by funding charitable endowments and scholarships in memory of their daughter.