Heartbroken Mother Files $100 Million Lawsuit Against FedEx Over Fatal California Bus Crash

A lawsuit was filed Tuesday against FedEx by the mother of a 17-year-old honors student â€" one of 10 people who perished in a fiery Northern California bus crash. The grieve-stricken mother is alleging that FedEx trucks have a history of catching fire.

This is the first negligence suit filed in association with the April 10 freeway crash that occurred in Orland, said A. King Aminpour, the attorney representing the plaintiffs. The family is seeking $100 million in damages.

Mother of 17-year-old victim of Northern California fatal freeway crash, files lawsuit against FedEx
Courtesy of abcnews.go.com

Official documents pertaining to the suit were filed in the Los Angeles County Superior Court on behalf of Rosa Rivera who is the mother of Jennifer Bonilla of Los Angeles.

Jennifer Bonilla was a stellar student at Dorsey High School, and due to her high GPA,  was awarded a college scholarship. She was among several teens en route to Humboldt State University for the spring open house and tour of the campus, when the bus was struck head-on by a FedEx truck.

A large number of teenagers were able to escape through the windows of the bus before it exploded into a ball of flames, however, five students, three adult chaperones and both drivers were not so fortunate, and died in the accident.

“She had her whole future before her,” Aminpour said of Bonilla. “She was the first in her family to ever go to college.”

The California Highway Patrol is still piecing together details of their investigation into the tragic crash 100 miles north of Sacramento, therefore, the exact cause has yet to be determined.

There are reports from some witnesses that the FedEx truck was on fire moments prior to the crash occurring. The lawsuit contends that FedEx trucks have a history of catching fire for a variety of reasons including mechanical problems, driver error or improper cargo loading.

“Our heartfelt condolences remain with everyone affected by this tragic accident,” Memphis, Tenn.-based FedEx Corp. said in a statement. “We remain focused on providing support to those affected and cooperating with the authorities as they conduct their investigation. This is not the time for us to discuss potential litigation.”

Other defendants implicated in the lawsuit include the estate of the FedEx driver as well as the bus owner, Silverado Stages. The lawsuit also alleges that the bus lacked sufficient exit doors, which severely impaired the passengers means of escape after the crash.

Officials for Silverado Stages have not yet commented publicly about the pending lawsuit.

Heartbroken Mother Files 100 Million Lawsuit Against FedEx Over Fatal California Bus Crash