On Thursday, August 30, 2018, a 2016 Freightliner trucktractor in combination with a 2017 Utility refrigerated semitrailer, was traveling east in the right lane of Interstate 40 (l-40) near Thoreau, in McKinley County, New Mexico. In the vicinity of milepost 50, the left front tire experienced a sudden air loss and the driver lost control of the combination vehi9le, then entered the 33-foot-wide depressed earthen median, jackknifed, and continued into the westbound lanes- striking a 20 I 5 MCI motorcoach. The combination vehicle, operated by Jag Transportation of Fresno, California, and occupied. by the 35-year-old driver, was transporting produce to Memphis, Tennessee. The motorcoach, operated by Greyhound Lines and occupied by the 50-year-old driver and 48 passengers, was traveling west in the right lane of 1-40. In this area, 1-40 is a four-lane controlled-access highway. The posted speed limit is 75 mph.
As a result of the crash, seven motorcoach passengers were fatally injured, 39 received minor-to-serious injuries, and two were uninjured. The motorcoach driver did not survive the crash. Following the crash, one motorcoach passenger prematurely went into labor and delivered twins. One of the twins died from complications on September 9, 2018. The driver of the combination vehicle received minor injuries.
This investigation was initiated to support the NTSB's interest in Electronic Logging Devices used to record the hours-of-service for operators of commercial motor vehicles. Also, the investigation examined issues associated with the NTSB's continued concern in crash recorders and motorcoach passenger protection. No investigation report will be issued. Information from is investigation may be used to support safety issues identified in future commercial vehicle investigations, reports and/or other mission-related activities.
