Trucker who caused 2016 crash that killed 13 people in Riverside County released from jail

Last Updated on October 28, 2019 by CCAR Staff

INDIO — A trucker who pleaded guilty to 42 felony and misdemeanor charges, including manslaughter, in connection with a crash that killed 13 people near Palm Springs three years ago was released from custody Monday.

Bruce Guilford, 53, of Covington, Georgia, was released because he had enough credits for time served, according to John Hall, a spokesman for the Riverside County District Attorney’s Office. Guilford, who had been in custody since November 2017, pleaded guilty in August and was immediately sentenced to four years in state prison.

Guilford admitted to falling asleep behind the wheel of his big rig during the early hours on Oct. 23, 2016, while traveling westbound on Interstate 10. Traffic had temporarily stalled along the I-10 due to a traffic break conducted by California Highway Patrol officers in connection with utility work on the freeway. It was during the traffic break that Guilford set his parking brake and then fell asleep, according to the CHP.

After the traffic break was lifted, Guilford remained idle in the roadway for about a minute before a tour bus crashed into the rear of his rig. The owner of the bus line, Teodulo Elias Vides, and a dozen passengers sitting near front of the bus were killed on impact.