Update (January 23, 2026): Authorities have identified those killed in this accident as bus driver Christina Sue Whittemore, 41; passengers Casandra Ann Moreno, 42; John Douglas Perry, 72; Trena Kay Kain, 62; and Oscar Casas Carrillo, 41; and pickup driver Kelly Margaret Langstaff, 50. Passenger Joseph Rhoads, 54, survived the crash.

Tehama County, CA — January 14, 2026, six people were killed and one other person was injured in a bus accident at about 10 a.m. on State Highway 99W.

Authorities said a southbound Toyota Tacoma and a northbound Tehama County Transit bus collided head-on north of Corning.

The Toyota driver, the bus driver and four passengers were pronounced dead at the scene of the crash south of Gyle Road, according to authorities. Their names have not been made public yet.

Another bus passenger was flown to a Chico hospital with major injuries, authorities said.

Authorities have not released any additional information about the Tehama County crash at this time. The accident is still under investigation.

Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman

When people hear about a violent head-on collision that kills six people and injures another, the first thought is usually: How could something like this happen? From what's been reported so far, we know that a Toyota Tacoma and a Tehama County Transit bus collided on Highway 99W, and both drivers died at the scene along with several passengers. What we don’t know, and what matters most legally, is why these two vehicles ended up in each other’s path.

Right now, there's a giant hole in the public narrative: Which vehicle crossed the center line? Was one of the drivers attempting to pass another vehicle? Did someone fall asleep or suffer a medical emergency? Was there a mechanical failure, or were road conditions a factor? Without knowing who veered off course or why, it’s impossible to begin holding the right parties accountable.

In my experience with similar head-on collisions, the key to getting answers lies in the evidence that goes far beyond what’s visible at the scene. For example, a transit bus should have internal data systems that log speed, braking and steering input; basically a digital record of what the driver was doing in the seconds before impact. In some systems, there are also forward- and rear-facing cameras inside the vehicle. If those are available, they could show whether the driver was alert and operating the vehicle normally or if something went wrong.

As for the Toyota Tacoma, we don’t yet know if it had comparable electronic data, but cell phone records, dash cam footage or eyewitness accounts could help clarify the sequence of events. Even subtle evidence like tire marks, debris scatter or the angle of the vehicles can offer critical clues about who crossed into oncoming traffic.

At this point, we also don’t know much about either driver: how long the bus driver had been on shift, whether either had a history of crashes or whether either vehicle had mechanical issues. But those are exactly the kinds of questions that a thorough legal investigation can answer, using tools like driver logs, maintenance records, toxicology reports and background checks.

When this many people lose their lives, there’s a natural rush to find someone to blame. But responsibility should rest on evidence, not assumptions. And based on what’s publicly available right now, too many basic facts are still unknown.

Key Takeaways:

• The most important unanswered question is who crossed the center line and why.
• Black box data, dash cams and cell phone records may hold key evidence.
• Both driver conduct and vehicle condition should be investigated.
• A legal investigation will likely uncover factors not mentioned in early reports.
• Accountability depends on the full story, not assumptions or initial impressions.