Truck Driver Involved in Fatal Crash Arrested for Felony Vehicular Manslaughter

Oct 23,2017

The truck driver who fell asleep at the wheel, causing a fatal tour bus crash in Palm Springs last October, has been charged with felony vehicular manslaughter. The crash last October on I-10 took the lives of 13 people and injured 31 others.

Police stopped traffic, so the truck driver, 51-year-old Bruce Guilford of Covington, Georgia, stopped his big rig in the far right westbound lane. According to police, Guilford then fell asleep. Traffic began moving again, but Guilford did not move his truck. About one minute later, the tour bus struck the truck’s rear trailer at 76 miles per hour.

Officers arrested Guilford Thursday. He faces 13 counts of felony vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence. He has also been charged with felony reckless driving with injury.

Truck Driver Violated Federal Regulations

According to the court documents, Guilford has still continued working as a truck driver since the crash. Investigators also say the truck driver falsified his driver log in the weeks leading up to the accident, violating federal regulations. In fact, in the 24 hours leading up to the crash, Guilford only had 7 hours of sleep opportunity. However, the arrest declaration states he most likely did not sleep during that time.

“Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims still suffering as a result of this crash. We know all too well about the trucking industry’s propensity for violating federal regulations,” said Attorney Walter Clark, founder of Walter Clark Legal Group.

Our firm has been handling personal injury cases throughout the California Low Desert and High Desert communities for over 30 years. With a 95% success rate, the California personal injury attorneys at Walter Clark Legal Group will fight to hold those responsible for your loss accountable and win compensation to cover medical bills, lost wages, and pain and suffering. If you have been injured in a truck accident and want to discuss your legal options, contact us today for a free consultation with an experienced personal injury lawyer. We have offices in Indio, Rancho Mirage, Victorville, and Yucca Valley and represent clients through the entire California Low Desert and High Desert communities.

DISCLAIMER: The Walter Clark Legal Group blog is intended for general information purposes only and is not intended as legal or medical advice. References to laws are based on general legal practices and vary by location. Information reported comes from secondary news sources. We do handle these types of cases, but whether or not the individuals and/or loved ones involved in these accidents choose to be represented by a law firm is a personal choice we respect. Should you find any of the information incorrect, we welcome you to contact us with corrections.