168:. Prothero was unfamiliar with this bus, and mistook the low air pressure warning (for the air brakes) for a warning of low engine oil pressure. Intending to stop for oil, the driver exited the freeway at the aforementioned off ramp; the air brake system failed due to lack of air pressure. With no braking capability, the bus struck the mounted bridge rail and left the elevated roadway. After falling 21.6 feet (6.6 meters), the bus landed on its roof, crushing it to the base of the window line.
316:
In May 1996, on the twentieth anniversary of the accident, a memorial built near the water at the
Martinez Marina was dedicated to the victims. Bearing the names of those who died, it was constructed by firefighters who had responded to the accident and their friends and largely funded by them and
300:
The upside of the accident is that the training and testing for school bus drivers has been improved, plus the design and construction of school buses has been improved. Additionally pre-trip and post-trip inspections and repairs are now more refined and more regulated.
104:. A chartered school bus transporting 52 passengers on an elevated offramp left the roadway, landing on its roof. Of the 52 passengers (not including the driver), 28 students and an adult adviser were killed in the crash.
277:, which it attributed to the unfamiliarity and inexperience of the driver with the design of the 26-year-old bus and his confusion of oil pressure and air pressure warnings. Contributing to the accident were:
176:
Out of the 52 passengers on board, 28 students and an adult adviser were killed. All of the surviving passengers were injured, most critically. The driver survived the crash but was seriously hurt.
265:
The crash claimed one additional victim. Daniel I. Wright, 15, died on May 24, 1976, at the
Highland Hospital in Oakland, California due to the injuries he sustained in the crash.
410:
382:
1001:
991:
261:
Christina E. (nee Cadena) Estabrook, 25, wife of Dean
Estabrook, who was driving his own vehicle in front of the bus when the disaster occurred.
591:
981:
932:
986:
823:
674:
996:
741:
712:
350:
284:
The failure of the maintenance program and pre-trip inspection to detect and replace the deteriorated air compressor drivebelt
718:
570:
274:
108:
635:
884:
890:
695:
866:
667:
844:
911:
776:
724:
613:
462:
971:
976:
861:
794:
660:
566:
165:
550:"'It was like a bad dream,' Bus Crash Survivor Says." The Petaluma Argus-Courier. May 22, 1976, pg 1-2.
287:
The failure of the signing system to adequately alert the driver to the critical geometrics of the ramp
906:
878:
839:
788:
309:
The Yuba City bus disaster was the second-worst bus disaster in U.S. history, exceeded only by the
499:
551:
539:
518:
355:
327:
In 2015, the I-680 freeway off-ramp was replaced with one having a longer and flatter approach.
800:
310:
157:
895:
770:
134:
130:
120:
97:
8:
817:
318:
872:
764:
138:
387:
782:
146:
57:
Brake failure due to insufficient maintenance, driver training, driver proficiency
900:
123:
chartered a school bus from
Student Transportation Lines, Inc. to transport its
592:"The Worst Bus Crash in the Nation's History Happened 36 Years Ago in Martinez"
317:
donations they obtained. On the 35th anniversary of the accident in May 2011,
142:
614:"Firefighters pay homage to bus accident victims : Martinez News-Gazette"
965:
947:
934:
636:"CALTRANS REPLACES DEADLY I-680 OFF-RAMP IN MARTINEZ : ABC & News"
153:
463:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112653146/yuba-city-highschool-bus-crash/
321:
161:
125:
101:
652:
107:
It remains the deadliest highway disaster ever investigated by the
156:
occurred at 10:55 a.m., as the driver, Evan
Prothero, 49, of
145:
involving the choirs of the two schools. The company supplied a
500:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112656061/yuba-city-bush-crash/
552:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112658396/yuba-city-bus-crash/
540:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112657510/yuba-city-bus-crash/
519:
https://www.newspapers.com/clip/112654728/yuba-city-bus-crash/
513:"Another bus crash victim dies as town begins burying dead."
457:
Blaylock, Bill. "Survivor: 28 Perished in Snap of a Finger."
351:"20 Long Years Later, Martinez Remembers A School Bus Crash"
380:
160:, took the Marina Vista Avenue off-ramp (exit 56) from
313:, which claimed the lives of 32 Mexican farmworkers.
423:"A Week of Sadness: Yuba City Commemorates Losses."
296:
A bridge rail system that did not redirect the bus.
381:Hager, Philip & Lembke, Daryl (May 22, 1976).
293:The design of the curb as part of the ramp railing
963:
611:
311:1963 train-bus collision in Chualar, California
16:Deadly school bus crash in Martinez, California
290:The severe radius of the curvature of the ramp
668:
633:
376:
374:
372:
348:
413:. Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. AP. May 22, 1976.
281:The failure of the air compressor drivebelt
109:National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB)
1002:History of Contra Costa County, California
742:Gilchrest Road, New York crossing accident
675:
661:
369:
713:Chipman-Lamont school bus-train collision
824:1995 Fox River Grove bus–train collision
584:
344:
342:
340:
992:Transportation disasters in California
964:
682:
494:"YCHS chois bus crash toll up to 29."
411:"28 Killed in Calif. School Bus Crash"
656:
561:
559:
490:
453:
337:
273:The accident was investigated by the
982:May 1976 events in the United States
719:Villa Soldati level crossing tragedy
571:National Transportation Safety Board
530:
528:
526:
509:
507:
488:
486:
484:
482:
480:
478:
476:
474:
472:
470:
451:
449:
447:
445:
443:
441:
439:
437:
435:
433:
405:
403:
401:
399:
275:National Transportation Safety Board
987:1976 disasters in the United States
324:dedicated a monument in Yuba City.
13:
997:Bus incidents in the United States
885:Medak district bus-train collision
556:
14:
1013:
891:2016 Chattanooga school bus crash
696:Prestonsburg, Kentucky, bus crash
523:
504:
467:
430:
396:
49:Student Transportation Lines, Inc
867:Kallar Kahar school bus accident
268:
845:Cottonwood, Minnesota bus crash
627:
605:
567:"Accident Investigation - NTSB"
912:2019 Lakewood semi-truck crash
777:Snow Hill school bus collision
725:Dorion level crossing accident
612:Gerardo Recinos (2013-05-26).
544:
417:
249:Lawrence H. "Larry" Rooney, 16
1:
515:The San Bernardino County Sun
330:
96:occurred on May 21, 1976, in
634:Laura Anthony (2015-05-21).
349:Erin Hallissy (1996-09-16).
304:
7:
862:2011 Gansu school bus crash
425:The Petaluma Argus-Courier.
383:"School bus crash kills 28"
225:Lynda K. "Kris" Huston, 16
114:
10:
1018:
390:(via St. Petersburg Times)
228:Lorie J. Killingsworth, 18
213:James B. "Jim" Frontz, 17
192:Thomas W. "Tom" Brooks, 18
171:
920:
907:2018 New Jersey bus crash
879:Manfalut railway accident
854:
840:2006 Huntsville bus crash
832:
810:
757:
734:
705:
688:
82:
74:
66:
61:
53:
45:
35:
30:
26:
21:
922:This list is incomplete.
789:Carrollton bus collision
517:, May 25, 1976, pg 16.
356:San Francisco Chronicle
180:Constance J. Adkins, 17
166:Benicia–Martinez Bridge
149:bus, dating from 1950.
801:Alton, Texas bus crash
795:Måbødalen bus accident
748:Yuba City bus disaster
534:"Casualty List Told."
498:. May 26, 1976, pg 1.
461:, May 23, 1976, pg 5.
258:Robert J. Stafford, 17
252:Seth T. Rosebrough, 17
246:Robert F. Randolph, 17
240:Catherine R. Mudge, 16
210:Pamela S. Engstrom, 18
186:Bonnie D. Barfield, 18
94:Yuba City bus disaster
22:Yuba City bus disaster
896:2017 Verona bus crash
771:Westdene dam disaster
616:. Martinezgazette.com
216:Cynthia L. Graham, 17
207:Sharlene R. Engle, 17
201:Carrie L. Emmirch, 15
195:Rachel A. Carlson, 16
135:Miramonte High School
131:Yuba City, California
121:Yuba City High School
948:38.0244°N 122.1110°W
538:May 22, 1976, pg 2.
427:May 29, 1976, pg 5.
255:Larry R. Shearer, 14
231:Joanne A. Matson, 15
204:Carlene D. Engle 17
198:Danielle C. Cote, 15
164:southbound from the
111:since its creation.
972:1976 road incidents
944: /
818:Nyanga bus accident
319:Contra Costa County
243:Bobby R. Ortega, 16
237:Marti A. Melani, 18
219:Steven A. Gust, 17
977:1976 in California
953:38.0244; -122.1110
873:Sierre coach crash
765:Beaune coach crash
683:School bus crashes
496:The Gridley Herald
459:The Sacramento Bee
927:
926:
234:Jodi L. McCoy, 18
189:Ruth A. Bowen, 16
183:Marla L. Azim, 15
119:On May 21, 1976,
90:
89:
1009:
959:
958:
956:
955:
954:
949:
945:
942:
941:
940:
937:
783:HaBonim disaster
677:
670:
663:
654:
653:
647:
646:
644:
643:
631:
625:
624:
622:
621:
609:
603:
602:
600:
599:
588:
582:
581:
579:
578:
563:
554:
548:
542:
532:
521:
511:
502:
492:
465:
455:
428:
421:
415:
414:
407:
394:
393:
378:
367:
366:
364:
363:
346:
222:Amy K. Hicks, 18
19:
18:
1017:
1016:
1012:
1011:
1010:
1008:
1007:
1006:
962:
961:
952:
950:
946:
943:
938:
935:
933:
931:
930:
928:
923:
916:
901:Perpignan crash
850:
828:
806:
753:
730:
701:
684:
681:
651:
650:
641:
639:
632:
628:
619:
617:
610:
606:
597:
595:
590:
589:
585:
576:
574:
565:
564:
557:
549:
545:
533:
524:
512:
505:
493:
468:
456:
431:
422:
418:
409:
408:
397:
379:
370:
361:
359:
347:
338:
333:
307:
271:
174:
117:
40:
17:
12:
11:
5:
1015:
1005:
1004:
999:
994:
989:
984:
979:
974:
925:
924:
921:
918:
917:
915:
914:
909:
904:
898:
893:
888:
882:
876:
870:
864:
858:
856:
852:
851:
849:
848:
842:
836:
834:
830:
829:
827:
826:
821:
814:
812:
808:
807:
805:
804:
798:
792:
786:
780:
774:
768:
761:
759:
755:
754:
752:
751:
745:
738:
736:
732:
731:
729:
728:
722:
716:
709:
707:
703:
702:
700:
699:
692:
690:
686:
685:
680:
679:
672:
665:
657:
649:
648:
638:. abc7news.com
626:
604:
594:. Claycord.com
583:
555:
543:
522:
503:
466:
429:
416:
395:
368:
335:
334:
332:
329:
306:
303:
298:
297:
294:
291:
288:
285:
282:
270:
267:
263:
262:
259:
256:
253:
250:
247:
244:
241:
238:
235:
232:
229:
226:
223:
220:
217:
214:
211:
208:
205:
202:
199:
196:
193:
190:
187:
184:
181:
173:
170:
143:friendship day
116:
113:
88:
87:
84:
80:
79:
76:
72:
71:
68:
64:
63:
59:
58:
55:
51:
50:
47:
43:
42:
37:
33:
32:
28:
27:
24:
23:
15:
9:
6:
4:
3:
2:
1014:
1003:
1000:
998:
995:
993:
990:
988:
985:
983:
980:
978:
975:
973:
970:
969:
967:
960:
957:
919:
913:
910:
908:
905:
902:
899:
897:
894:
892:
889:
886:
883:
880:
877:
874:
871:
868:
865:
863:
860:
859:
857:
853:
846:
843:
841:
838:
837:
835:
831:
825:
822:
819:
816:
815:
813:
809:
802:
799:
796:
793:
790:
787:
784:
781:
778:
775:
772:
769:
766:
763:
762:
760:
756:
749:
746:
743:
740:
739:
737:
733:
726:
723:
720:
717:
714:
711:
710:
708:
704:
697:
694:
693:
691:
687:
678:
673:
671:
666:
664:
659:
658:
655:
637:
630:
615:
608:
593:
587:
572:
568:
562:
560:
553:
547:
541:
537:
531:
529:
527:
520:
516:
510:
508:
501:
497:
491:
489:
487:
485:
483:
481:
479:
477:
475:
473:
471:
464:
460:
454:
452:
450:
448:
446:
444:
442:
440:
438:
436:
434:
426:
420:
412:
406:
404:
402:
400:
391:
389:
384:
377:
375:
373:
358:
357:
352:
345:
343:
341:
336:
328:
325:
323:
320:
314:
312:
302:
295:
292:
289:
286:
283:
280:
279:
278:
276:
269:Investigation
266:
260:
257:
254:
251:
248:
245:
242:
239:
236:
233:
230:
227:
224:
221:
218:
215:
212:
209:
206:
203:
200:
197:
194:
191:
188:
185:
182:
179:
178:
177:
169:
167:
163:
159:
155:
150:
148:
144:
140:
136:
132:
128:
127:
122:
112:
110:
105:
103:
99:
95:
85:
81:
77:
73:
69:
65:
60:
56:
52:
48:
44:
39:May 21, 1976
38:
34:
29:
25:
20:
929:
747:
640:. Retrieved
629:
618:. Retrieved
607:
596:. Retrieved
586:
575:. Retrieved
573:. 1977-09-29
546:
535:
514:
495:
458:
424:
419:
386:
360:. Retrieved
354:
326:
322:firefighters
315:
308:
299:
272:
264:
175:
151:
124:
118:
106:
93:
91:
951: /
939:122°06′40″W
129:choir from
966:Categories
936:38°01′28″N
642:2015-10-06
620:2013-11-19
598:2013-11-19
577:2013-11-19
536:The Times.
362:2013-11-19
331:References
158:Olivehurst
126:a cappella
102:California
67:Passengers
62:Statistics
305:Memorials
388:LA Times
154:accident
115:Incident
98:Martinez
46:Operator
41:10:55 AM
172:Victims
83:Injured
31:Details
903:(2017)
887:(2014)
881:(2012)
875:(2012)
869:(2011)
847:(2008)
820:(1991)
803:(1989)
797:(1988)
791:(1988)
785:(1985)
779:(1985)
773:(1985)
767:(1982)
750:(1976)
744:(1972)
727:(1966)
721:(1962)
715:(1960)
698:(1958)
141:for a
139:Orinda
75:Deaths
855:2010s
833:2000s
811:1990s
758:1980s
735:1970s
706:1960s
689:1950s
162:I-680
147:Crown
133:, to
54:Cause
152:The
92:The
36:Date
137:in
968::
569:.
558:^
525:^
506:^
469:^
432:^
398:^
385:.
371:^
353:.
339:^
100:,
86:24
78:29
70:53
676:e
669:t
662:v
645:.
623:.
601:.
580:.
392:.
365:.
Text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License. Additional terms may apply.