The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) released findings from an investigation into a 2023 fatal crash involving semi trucks parked along an exit ramp.
In a report released on May 20, 2025, the NTSB pointed to “driver fatigue, inadequate company oversight, and a critical lack of safe truck parking” as causes of a high-profile multi-vehicle crash on I-70 in Highland, Illinois.
The crash occurred on July 12, 2023, as a Greyhound bus left westbound I-70 for the Silver Lake Rest Area ramp. The bus collided with three tractor trailers parked on the right shoulder of the ramp, killing three passengers and injuring 12 others on the bus. The truck drivers were unhurt.
“This crash was as tragic as it was preventable,” said NTSB Chairman Jennifer Homendy. “Our investigation brought to light a critical shortage of safe truck parking and made clear a painful lesson: until we address this important safety issue, lives are at risk on our nation’s roads.”
Safety issues raised by NTSB during the investigation include:
- Motorcoach driver fatigue
- Deficient driver oversight by Greyhound, including lack of a progressive discipline policy; lack of adequate record-keeping; and lack of policies for implementing driver monitoring systems
- Insufficient federal guidance on safety management, driver coaching and fatigue mitigation
- Lack of seat belt use by the motorcoach passengers
- Crash risk from lack of truck parking availability along the National Highway System
Also as a result of the investigation, the NTSB plans to issue 11 new recommendations and 2 reiterated recommendations to the U.S. Department of Transportation, the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA), Greyhound Lines, the National Coalition on Truck Parking, the American Bus Association and the United Motorcoach Association. The NTSB will also reiterate two safety recommendations previously issued to FMCSA.
