Remembering the 2014 Spring Preview bus crash

By Iridian Casarez

An HSU student assembled a candle lit vigil to remember the 2014 Spring Preview bus crash.

Yulisa Salas, a second year English and critical race and gender studies major, put together a vigil to honor the victims of the 2014 Spring preview bus crash that killed 10 people, including potential HSU students.

“I put together the vigil for one of my friends who passed due to the accident, Adrian Castro,” Salas said. “There was no vigil last year for the incident so I decided to take matters into my own hands.” 

In 2014, a Spring Preview bus filled with faculty, staff and potential HSU students from southern California was headed toward HSU when a Fedex truck collided into it. Salas’ friend and classmate, Adrian Castro, was one of the victims in the crash. Salas said she felt angry, hurt and disappointed that there was no vigil planned to remember and recognized those impacted by the bus crash.  According to Salas, it only took her a day to put together the vigil, relying on social media and the support of her friends and family.

“I told myself there needs to be a vigil that recognizes those that were affected,” Salas said. “If HSU didn’t plan a vigil it just shows that HSU doesn’t care about their students, especially those who were affected by the crash that are now students.”

The vigil started out with Salas speaking about memories she shared with Castro. She then opened the mic to those who wanted to talk and open up about the bus accident.

Angie Flores-Cruz spoke about how the bus accident affected her. 

“I take this experience not to let it hold me back but to push me to achieve,” Flores-Cruz said to the crowd. “I feel stronger to hear from other survivors, thank you for your support.”

Many other survivors and friends of victims took the mic to express the way the bus crash impacted them and how it is still impacting them.

Karina Rivas, an economics major, came to support her friend and roommate who was on the bus that crashed. Rivas was a freshman at HSU when the bus crash happened. She said when news broke out about the crash her parents called her worried about her. 

“I didn’t know that my roommate was a part of the crash until we became roommates,” Rivas said. “It’s very tragic what happened, so I came to show my moral support.”

Salas said she hopes to continue to put together the vigil every year for victims and people affected by the crash.

“It’s important for us and the school to recognize that this tragedy is still impacting lives,” Salas said. “It’s important for us to keep the memories and stories of those who have passed alive.”