A Southern California mother who spent the last 24 hours agonizing over whether her daughter lived through a fiery bus crash confirmed late Friday that the girl is among those killed.
The mom of twin teens told NBC4 her daughter, Marisa Serrato, 17, died Thursday night when a tour bus carrying high school students heading for a college tour collided head-on with a FedEx big rig near Orland, Calif.
Marisa's twin sister, Marisol, went on the same trip, but she boarded a different bus and made it safely to Northern California.
The girls, Norte Vista High School students, were heading to Humboldt State University for a college tour.
Marisol signed up for the tour late, so she went on a different bus. Marisa's bus, however, burst into flames on Interstate 5 Thursday evening after the FedEx truck crossed lanes of traffic and slammed into the bus.
Nine people died at the scene of Thursday's crash and a 10th victim died at a hospital. Those killed included five students and five adults -- an engaged couple who were chaperoning, a guidance counselor and both drivers.
Since the crash, the girls' mother struggled to get a hold of Marisa and said she was desperate for information about what happened to her. The family became even more worried when officials called asking for dental records that would be used to possibly identify a victim.
News
Top news of the day
Marisol, who said she's been inseperable from her sister, is devastated.
