Neighbors Remember Tour Bus Driver In Deadly Orland Crash

ORLAND (CBS13) — Federal investigators are re-examining bus safety rules in the wake of the fiery crash that killed 10 people on Interstate 5.

The NTSB says it is revisiting proposals to enhance fire and passenger safety in light of the deadly crash between a tour bus full of high-school students and a FedEx truck near Orland on Thursday.

On April 7, Tala Lealao-Taiao was posting pictures of her new baby grandson on Facebook. Three days later, she would be killed when a FedEx truck crossed the median and hit the tour bus she was driving.

"My reaction was just shock, astonishment that something like that could have happened," said neighbor Bradley Williams.

He lives next door to Tala and her husband in Sacramento. He's stunned such a pleasant woman was taken so quickly.

"She was always cordial, would always say hello," he said.

Tala grew up in San Mateo and worked for SamTrans for nearly 20 years before moving to Sacramento where she drove charter buses.

Friends say a religious woman who took great pride in her Samoan heritage.

Cynthia Ala became friends with Tala after opening her Polynesian restaurant in Sacramento. She says the mother of two would come in and do her best to support local Samoan businesses.

"She was telling me how proud she was of my accomplishments, and I thought that was really cool," she said.

More time is needed for federal investigators to weigh the evidence gathered last week to find out exactly what happened in that crash.

In the meantime, an outpouring of emotions and condolences fill Tala's Facebook page, each one saying how much she will be missed.