Investigation concludes in fatal bus crash
August 7, 2024
Dear Campus Community,
The UC Santa Cruz Police Department, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team, has concluded its investigation into the tragic bus crash that killed campus shuttle driver Dan Stevenson and injured five students in December.
Investigators concluded there was no evidence of any pre-existing mechanical conditions or failures of the bus that would have contributed to the crash or any direct evidence of any distraction. They concluded that the driver failed to provide sufficient steering to negotiate the left-hand curve, resulting in the shuttle colliding with the rock wall of the lime kiln.
This crash was devastating for our shuttle driver, who lost his life, and for his family and friends and colleagues, who lost someone dear to them. In addition to mourning the death of a cherished campus colleague and expressing concerns for the students on the shuttle, we all wanted to know what caused this crash. We appreciate our community’s patience and understanding while we sought to understand what happened.
While the outcome of this investigation may not answer every question, I hope it provides some measure of closure for all those impacted by this heartbreaking incident. The final investigation report of the accident will be available to view on the UC Santa Cruz Newscenter on Friday after it has been distributed to the families of those involved in the accident.
Sincerely,
Ed
Ed Reiskin
Vice Chancellor for Finance, Operations and Administration
Dear Campus Community,
The UC Santa Cruz Police Department, with assistance from the California Highway Patrol Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team, has concluded its investigation into the tragic bus crash that killed campus shuttle driver Dan Stevenson and injured five students in December.
Investigators concluded there was no evidence of any pre-existing mechanical conditions or failures of the bus that would have contributed to the crash or any direct evidence of any distraction. They concluded that the driver failed to provide sufficient steering to negotiate the left-hand curve, resulting in the shuttle colliding with the rock wall of the lime kiln.
This crash was devastating for our shuttle driver, who lost his life, and for his family and friends and colleagues, who lost someone dear to them. In addition to mourning the death of a cherished campus colleague and expressing concerns for the students on the shuttle, we all wanted to know what caused this crash. We appreciate our community’s patience and understanding while we sought to understand what happened.
While the outcome of this investigation may not answer every question, I hope it provides some measure of closure for all those impacted by this heartbreaking incident. The final investigation report of the accident will be available to view on the UC Santa Cruz Newscenter on Friday after it has been distributed to the families of those involved in the accident.
Sincerely,
Ed
Ed Reiskin
Vice Chancellor for Finance, Operations and Administration
Campus Resources
Difficult news like this can impact the entire campus community and be complex to process. Campus services are here to help if you need support.
UC Santa Cruz students in need of support can seek help from Counseling and Psychological Services and Slug Support.
For faculty and staff, the Employee Assistance Program offers counseling and other support.
UC Santa Cruz, 1156 High Street, Santa Cruz, Ca 95064
©2024 Regents of the University of California. All Rights Reserved.