A Ford F250 truck drifted into oncoming traffic and crashed into a United Cerebral Palsy (UCP) bus head-on. The bus was carrying seven adults with cerebral palsy home from day programs in addition to an assistant and the driver.
The accident took three lives:
- Jeffrey Richard Rivas, 52, the driver of the Ford truck
- Sara Rae Johnson, 35, an assistant with UCP
- Laura Sue Weiderholt, 48, who died of broken bones and head trauma
“We’ve been here 56 years in this greater Sacramento area, this is the first time we’ve had something this traumatic happen,” said Steve Horton, spokesperson for the UCP. He said that UCP operates several buses that travel up to 4,500 miles a day. “Our entire UCP family is saddened and shocked and trying to do the best thing for everyone involved,” he said.
Authorities are still investigating the crash and what caused Rivas to drift into the wrong lane. The surviving passengers and the driver were taken to a nearby hospital for treatment.
This is an extremely tragic story. People with cerebral palsy often have fragile bodies, and a fatal car accident like this can undo decades of physical therapy. Proper seat restraints can be critical in mitigating injury, which we will discuss on Friday. We offer our condolences to the injured and to the family members of the deceased.
Cerebral palsy is the umbrella term for a collection of disorders involving cognitive development, limb control, muscle spasms and epilepsy, often resulting from medical negligence. If you believe that a doctor’s oversight contributed to your child’s condition, please visit our website to learn more about cerebral palsy. We offer free consultations to discuss your case.
Cappolino Dodd Krebs LLP – cerebral palsy attorneys
