Another student’s family sues FedEx in deadly Humboldt-bound bus crash

The family of a Los Angeles student killed last month when the charter bus he was in was hit by a FedEx truck in Orland, Calif., is filing a wrongful death lawsuit.

Ismael Jimenez, 18, was among 10 people killed April 10 when a FedEx truck on southbound Interstate 5 crossed the highway into oncoming traffic and slammed head-on into the charter bus that was carrying students headed to Humboldt State University for a weekend tour.

Jimenez, an aspiring artist, died at the front of the bus while helping other passengers escape the smoke and flames, witnesses said.

In the lawsuit to be filed Tuesday in Los Angeles County, Jimenez’s family lays blame for the crash on the FedEx truck, its manufacturer, Volvo, and its driver, who was among those killed. The charter bus company, Silverado Stages, is also named in the suit.

Before the crash, the FedEx driver signaled to change into the left lane and began to merge, the lawsuit alleges. But the freight hauler never straightened out and instead continued east across a 58-foot stretch of median and into oncoming traffic. Five Southern California students were killed, along with three adults overseeing the trip and the two drivers.

The lawsuit is just the latest in what is expected to become a slew of litigation against the bus company and FedEx.

A student injured in the crash filed suit earlier this month, and in April the mother of a student who died filed a lawsuit seeking $100 million. FedEx said it does not comment on litigation.

Jimenez’s family is seeking unspecified damages, said his attorney, Paul Kiesel, who plans to hold a news conference Tuesday morning announcing the litigation.