Officials have identified six people who died in a horrific Greyhound bus accident on Highway 99 in Fresno, the morning of July 22, 2010, as 57-year-old James Charles Jewett, the bus driver; Epifania Solis, 60, of Madera and Tomas Ponce, 79, of Mexico, both bus passengers; Stephenie Cordoba, 20, of Fresno, Vanessa Gonzalez, 19, of Fresno and Sylvia Lopez Garay, 18, of Dinuba. Cordoba, Gonzalez and Garay were occupants of a Chevy Trailblazer SUV that had initially rolled over before being struck by the bus, which was traveling from Los Angeles to Sacramento.

I offer my deepest condolences to the families and friends of these deceased victims for their tragic and devastating losses. I also sympathize with 34 others who have sustained personal injuries in this bus crash. I pray for their speedy and complete recovery.

Ongoing Investigation

Officials are now investigating what caused the initial accident involving the Chevy SUV and subsequently, what caused the driver to strike the SUV and crash. The bus, after striking the SUV, went off the right shoulder of the roadway and plowed into a tree. The driver, Jewett, has no record of prior driving violations and is a respected long-time employee of Greyhound, officials said.

Investigators are in the process of examining the driver's logs, speed at the time of collision and hours-of-service records to determine whether fatigue or negligence may have played a part in this early morning crash. So far, there is no indication that drugs or alcohol played a part. Officials are looking into why the Trailblazer crashed and overturned and who the driver was. They believe the women in the SUV were alive when the bus hit the vehicle. Investigators are also looking into whether the overturned SUV was visible to the bus driver at the time.

Fault and Liability

This is an extremely important investigation because the facts of this case will determine liability and how the victims and their families will be compensated for their injuries damages and loss. I'm sure that Greyhound's lawyers and insurance carriers are working hard at this time to protect the company's interests. The victims of this bus crash and their families need an experienced California personal injury lawyer on their side who will stay on top of this investigation, fight for their rights and protect their best interests.

In your opinion, what are some of the biggest challenges for the victims of this horrific crash?

None of the parties mentioned in this article are represented by us at the time this article was posted. The source of our information is cited in the article. If you were involved in this incident and have questions as to your rights and options, call a reputable law firm for a consultation. Do not act solely upon the information provided herein. The BISNAR | CHASE personal injury law firm will provide free, confidential consultation to "not at fault" persons and their family members if you mention your source was the “Personal Injury Law Journal." They can be reached at 866-456-5235 during California business hours.