By Stephen Allen Jamieson

Passengers in the fatal bus crash on Interstate 5 (I-5) yesterday near Chico California included students from Los Angeles and elsewhere who were traveling to visit California State University at Humboldt.  A FedEx truck heading the opposite direction crossed the median divider and collided head on with the bus carrying the students. The vehicles burst into flames.

The reasons for the crash and fire that engulfed the vehicles, will be investigated by law enforcement and insurance and lawyers for those injured and those who ultimately may be sued.

Because the accident occurred on a public roadway there will be analysis of whether the roadway was dangerous and defective, whether the drivers of either or both the vehicles were negligent, and whether the vehicles themselves were defective which may have either caused the collision itself or increased the injuries or contributed as a cause of the deaths.

While, generally speaking, the injured and the heirs of the deceased have 2 years to file a lawsuit against responsible parties, any claims against any governmental entities or persons are subject to a much shorter deadline of only 6 months in which to file a governmental tort claim with the city, county, or state.