Red Bluff, CA…January 14th, 2026, Fatal TRAX Bus Collision – Investigative Findings and Amendment of Death Certificates.  The Tehama County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Division is providing an update regarding the fatal traffic collision that occurred on January 14th, 2026, on Highway 99 West, south of Gyle Road, involving a black pickup truck operated by Christina Whittmore and a Tehama Rural Area eXpress (TRAX) bus.

During the collision, Ms. Whittmore crossed into the opposing lane of traffic, striking the TRAX bus head-on. The collision resulted in the deaths of Ms. Whittmore, the TRAX bus driver (Kelly Langstaff), and four passengers aboard the bus, (Cassandra Moreno, John Perry, Oscar Carrillo, and Trena Cain).

The Tehama County Sheriff’s Office Coroner’s Division recently received updated investigative findings from the California Highway Patrol (CHP) Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team (MAIT), which conducted an extensive investigation into the circumstances surrounding the collision.

Information obtained during the autopsy and toxicology report investigators found Ms. Whittmore was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the collision. During the investigation, CHP also discovered writings associated with Ms. Whittmore that included references to suicidal ideation, financial difficulties, and illicit substance abuse. CHP also determined from vehicle data that Ms. Whittmore made no effort to slow or stop previous to the collision.

Additionally, CHP investigators obtained dash camera footage documenting an incident that occurred on January 13th, 2026, the day before the fatal collision, in the same general vicinity along Highway 99 West. The footage showed Ms. Whittmore crossing into the opposing lane of traffic in an apparent attempt to collide head-on with a garbage truck. The driver of the garbage truck took evasive action, successfully avoiding a collision.