Yuba City bus disaster facts for kids

The Yuba City bus disaster was a terrible accident that happened on May 21, 1976. It took place in Martinez, California. A school bus carrying 52 students and an adult left the road. The bus fell and landed upside down. Sadly, 28 students and one adult died in the crash.

This event is still one of the worst bus accidents in U.S. history. It is the deadliest school bus accident ever. It is also the most serious highway disaster the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has ever investigated.

What Happened?

On May 21, 1976, Yuba City High School rented a bus. The bus was from Student Transportation Lines, Inc. It was taking the school's a cappella choir to Miramonte High School in Orinda. They were going for a special "friendship day" with other choirs. The bus was a very old Crown model from 1950.

The accident happened at 10:55 in the morning. The driver, Evan Prothero, was 49 years old. He was taking an exit ramp from I-680 southbound. The driver was not familiar with this older bus. He thought a warning light meant the engine oil was low.

Brake Failure

The warning light was actually for the air brakes. Air brakes need air pressure to work. The driver wanted to stop for oil, so he took the exit. But the air brake system had no air pressure. This meant the brakes did not work at all.

The bus hit the bridge wall and drove off the elevated road. It fell about 21 feet (6.6 meters). The bus landed on its roof. The roof was crushed down to the windows.

Out of 52 passengers, 28 students and one adult died. All the students who survived were hurt. Many had serious injuries. The bus driver also survived but was badly injured.

How We Learned from the Accident

The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) looked into the accident. They found that the driver was not familiar with the old bus. He also got confused about the warning lights.

Causes of the Crash

Several things helped cause the accident:

• A belt that powered the air compressor broke.
• The bus's maintenance checks did not find this broken belt.
• The road signs did not clearly warn the driver about the sharp turn ahead.
• The exit ramp had a very sharp curve.
• The curb on the ramp was part of the railing.
• The bridge railing was not strong enough to stop the bus.

Safety Improvements

Even though it was a tragedy, the accident led to good changes. Training for school bus drivers got much better. Testing for drivers also improved. The way school buses are designed and built became safer. Now, buses have more careful checks before and after trips. These checks and repairs are also more regulated.

Remembering the Victims

The Yuba City bus disaster was the second-worst bus accident in U.S. history. The only one worse was a train-bus crash in 1963. That crash killed 32 farmworkers.

Memorials Built

In May 1996, on the 20th anniversary, a memorial was built. It is near the water at the Martinez Marina. It has the names of those who died. Firefighters who helped at the accident built it. They also raised most of the money for it.

On the 35th anniversary in May 2011, firefighters from Contra Costa County dedicated another monument. This one is in Yuba City.

In 2015, the I-680 freeway off-ramp was rebuilt. The new ramp is longer and flatter, making it safer.