24 Injured In Tour Bus Crash On Interstate 15 In Corona
CORONA (CBSLA.com) — Twenty-four people were injured Thursday in a tour bus crash on Interstate 15, according to the California Highway Patrol.
A spokesperson for the agency said the Sina International tour bus was traveling in wet weather from the Pala Casino Spa & Resort in San Diego County to Westminster in Orange County when the crash occurred on the northbound I-15 between Magnolia Avenue and the 91 Freeway at approximately 2:30 p.m.
CHP spokesperson Travis Monks told KCAL9 approximately 30 passengers were on board.
All passengers were transported to area hospitals, with injuries ranging from minor to moderate. No fatalities were reported.
The driver, identified as 35-year-old Jian Fei Duan, of Baldwin Park, was among those who suffered minor injuries. He was treated at the scene.
Officers say Duan was traveling at 65 mph, considered an unsafe speed for the wet roadway conditions, and was unable to maintain control of the bus. The vehicle then traveled off the roadway and into the center median area, striking the guardrail and overturning onto its side in the northbound number 1 and 2 lanes.
CHP and the Inland Division Major Accident Investigation Team responded, conducted an on-scene investigation and stored the bus as evidence to conduct a full mechanical inspection.
Lanes were reopened to traffic at 8:13 p.m.
Forty miles away, a second tour bush crash on the 1-15 was reported at roughly the same time.
Authorities said a 64-year-old female from Glendale was killed and about two dozen others injured when the southbound bus skidded out of control and overturned on the freeway near State Route 76 in the Pala Mesa area at about 2:30 p.m.
According to the CHP, 14 people suffered minor injuries, six people suffered major injuries and one left the scene refusing medical aid.
All injured parties were transported to Palomar Hospital, Fallbrook Hospital and Tri City Medical Center.
CHP has identified the driver in that crash as a 56-year-old male from Compton.
The driver told authorities he was traveling from the Panorama City area to Valley View Casino at 55 mph when the bus started to lose control and his attempt to correct failed, causing the bus to skid to the right shoulder of the roadway and turn onto its left side.
The southbound I-15 number 3 and 4 lanes were closed for several hours as a result.
Officers say wet conditions may have been a factor.
The crash remains under investigation.
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