6 Dead After Transit Bus Becomes ‘Engulfed in Flames’ Following Head-On Collision with Pickup Truck on Calif. Highway

Six people were killed and one person was seriously injured after a pickup truck crashed head-on into a transit bus in Northern California.

The California Highway Patrol’s Red Bluff area office said in a press release that the collision happened around 10:00 a.m. on Wednesday, Jan. 14, on Highway 99W south of Gyle Road.

According to investigators, a gray Toyota Tacoma was traveling southbound with one person inside at an unknown speed. For reasons that have not yet been determined, the truck crossed over the broken yellow centerline into the northbound lane, where it struck a Tehama County transit bus heading northbound. The bus was carrying five passengers, and its speed was also unknown.

Authorities said the impact caused the bus to become fully engulfed in flames.

Officials confirmed that the bus driver and four passengers were pronounced dead. The pickup truck’s driver also died at the scene. One other bus occupant was taken to Enloe Medical Center with major injuries.

Investigators said it is not yet known whether drugs or alcohol played a role. The identities of those involved have not been released, pending notification of family members.

Anyone with information that could help identify the passengers on the transit bus is asked to contact the Tehama County Coroner’s office at (530) 527-1130.

Cal Fire and the Tehama County Fire Department said they assisted at the crash site.

Tehama County Public Works said in a Facebook post that all transit services were suspended for the remainder of Wednesday and on Thursday, citing operational considerations and out of respect for the families and employees affected. Transit service is expected to resume Friday, depending on operational readiness, and the agency said more updates would be shared as they become available.

The CHP-Red Bluff office later announced that Highway 99W south of Gyle Road had reopened after a temporary closure.