Tour Bus Driver Could Face Charges For Crash

VACAVILLE, Calif. (CBS13) -- The driver of a tour bus that veered off Interstate 80 on Monday, injuring more than a dozen passengers, could face charges of negligence, authorities said.

The United Coach Tours bus swerved off the busy interstate at about 4:30 p.m. Monday and took out at least 30 feet of perimeter fencing before coming to rest on a frontage road. Emergency crews transported 13 of the 50 passengers to the hospital, but none of the injuries were life threatening.

Passengers initially praised driver Yunzho Ma for the stop, saying she had screamed that the bus lost brakes and had intentionally driven off the interstate to bring the bus to a halt.

California Highway Patrol spokesman Officer Rick Weaver said Ma told them the steering and brakes had failed, but the investigation has indicated otherwise.

"We checked the linkage, we checked the air brakes on the bus," Weaver said. "The bus was functioning properly at the time of the collision."

Investigators said driver error appears to be a factor in the accident, and said Ma may not have properly inspected the bus before leaving San Francisco on the trip.

Ma apparently admitted to investigators that she was speeding, authorities said.

"The fact that there were skid marks tell me the brakes were working," Weaver sai.d

The pending investigation could lead to charges of reckless driving and negligence. The owner of United Coach Tours said they may take disciplinary action against the driver.