Bus crash: Grim task of identifying victims goes on
ORLAND, Calif. -- The grim work of coroner’s officials continued over the weekend as autopsies were undertaken on more victims of Thursday’s bus crash in Northern California in an effort and to formally identify the dead.
Five autopsies remain, according to Larry Jones, who serves as the sheriff and coroner in Glenn County, said in a prepared statement Saturday. In addition, attempts to obtain dental records of the victims “is being accelerated as much as is humanly possible,” Jones said in a statement.
Medical personnel will use the dental records to positively identify the dead. If dental records for some victims are not available, authorities will need to resort to DNA tests, which would take far longer to complete, Jones said.
A grim tally: The dead and the unaccounted for
In an interview Saturday, Jones said he and his staff had met with all the victims’ families.
“All the names are accounted for. We just don’t know which body goes with which name. And we don’t know at this point what body to release to what family,” Jones said.
“Obviously they know that their loved one is missing and has not returned. The probability is almost 100% that they already know that they’ve lost someone. But we can’t positively tell them until we get all the dental records.”
Jones described heart-wrenching conversations with grieving family members. Until positive identifications are made, some naturally cling to “that last glimmer of hope” their loved one might still be alive, he said.
“It’s very emotional,” he said. “They’re starting to realize their loved one is deceased. ... The best thing I recommend is they go home. I’d bring family and friends close to them for support. Unfortunately, it’s a waiting game.”
About 5:30 p.m. Thursday, a FedEx truck on Interstate 5 in Orland veered across a wide median and hit a tour bus carrying dozens of students from the Los Angeles area. The vehicles exploded in flames, killing 10 and injuring dozens of others.
The youths were on their way to Humboldt State University to participate in an orientation program for underprivileged students who had been accepted for admission at the school. In all, five students were killed, three adult chaperons and the drivers of the two vehicles.
Except for the two drivers, all of the dead have been accounted for and identified by family members.
The cause of the crash is still under investigation. Officials said it could be months before they know what happened.
Twitter: @melmason | @joelrubin
Mason reported from Orland and Rubin from Los Angeles.
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