Turlock Bus Driver Seriously Hurt After Fleeing Driver Crashes Into Transit Bus

What Turlock Police Reported

Turlock police officers responded at about 8:10 p.m. on Thursday, September 24, 2026, to a hit-and-run collision on Lander Avenue near Highway 99. No injuries were reported in that collision, and the driver involved left the scene, according to police and Central Valley news reports.

Minutes later, officers were called to a second crash at High Street and West Avenue South involving the same car and a Turlock Transit bus. The impact sent the bus into a home that was unoccupied at the time. Firefighters had to extricate the bus driver, who was taken to a trauma facility with serious injuries.

The car's driver was found unresponsive and pronounced dead at the scene. News reports identified him as Kevin Wooten, 53, of Turlock. The crash also damaged a fire hydrant and a natural gas line, and PG&E crews stopped the leak. Police said it was not yet known whether impairment played a role, and toxicology results were pending. CBS Sacramento, FOX40, and the Modesto Bee reported on the crash.

When a Fleeing Driver Causes a Second Crash

Drivers who leave the scene of one collision often keep driving at high speed or erratically, and a second, more serious crash can follow within minutes. In this case, a transit worker on the job was among those hurt. This article does not assign blame; the full sequence of events is under investigation by the Turlock Police Department.

What an Injured Bus Driver Should Know

A bus driver hurt while working is usually covered by workers' compensation, which pays for medical care and part of lost wages regardless of fault. But workers' compensation does not pay for pain and suffering. When another driver causes the crash, the injured worker may also have a separate injury claim against that driver's auto insurance, or through other available coverage when the at-fault driver has died or has little insurance.

Coordinating a workers' compensation claim with a third-party injury claim is complicated, because the workers' compensation carrier may seek reimbursement from any recovery. Getting advice early helps protect both claims and the evidence, including bus camera footage, which transit agencies often record.

Our bus accident lawyers help drivers and passengers hurt in Northern California bus crashes, and our car accident lawyers handle hit-and-run and fleeing-driver cases. Consultations are free and confidential.