Pickup driver intentionally caused California bus crash that killed 6, officials say

A January collision that killed six people on Highway 99W in California was a murder-suicide, and the pickup driver tried to kill herself on the same highway a day earlier, officials say.

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Christina Whittmore, 31, was under the influence of methamphetamine when she crossed into the opposing lane and drove her black pickup truck head-on into a Tehama Rural Area eXpress bus, the Tehama County Sheriff’s Office said Tuesday.

After reviewing the California Highway Patrol’s investigation, deputy coroners and the medical examiner determined Whittmore’s death would be classified as a suicide. The deaths of TRAX bus driver Kelly Langstaff and passengers Cassandra Moreno, John Perry, Oscar Carrillo and Trena Cain would be classified as homicides, the Sheriff’s Office said. The crash happened near Corning, in Northern California.

Tehama County coroner’s officials said they recently received updated findings from the CHP’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team that shed new light on the months-long investigation. An autopsy and toxicology report found Whittmore was under the influence of methamphetamine at the time of the collision.

Investigators also “discovered writings associated with Ms. Whittmore that included references to suicidal ideation, financial difficulties, and illicit substance abuse,” the Sheriff’s Office said.

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Vehicle data showed Whittmore made no effort to slow or stop before striking the bus on Jan. 14, sheriff’s officials said.

CHP investigators also obtained dashboard camera footage from Jan. 13 that showed Whittmore cross into the opposing lane on Highway 99W in what investigators described as an apparent attempt to collide head-on with a garbage truck, according to the Sheriff’s Office.

The garbage truck driver took evasive action and avoided a collision.

This story was originally published October 6, 2026 at 10:04 PM with the headline “Pickup driver intentionally caused California bus crash that killed 6, officials say.”

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