Over 50 people were injured after a tour bus crashed on the Foothill Freeway this afternoon, about 20 miles east of Los Angeles. NBC Los Angeles reports that the crash happened around 10 a.m. near the junction of the 210 Freeway and the San Gabriel (605) Freeway in Irwindale, California.
A spokesman from the Los Angeles County-USC Medical Center said that the bus accident victims were adults aged 60 to 80. KPCC reports that the adults were headed to San Manuel Indian Bingo & Casino at the time of the crash.
The USC Medical Center spokesperson noted that eight of the bus accident victims suffered more severe injuries than the others. “They’re in guarded condition, relatively stable,” spokesman Dr. Leo Rodriguez said. “They were all conscious on arrival.”
This accident is being investigated by the California Highway Patrol’s Multidisciplinary Accident Investigation Team, which handles all major crash investigations throughout the state. It is unclear whether other vehicles were involved in this accident. Aerial photos show the bus rolled onto its side. Emergency crews used color-coded tarps to triage the victims.
A semi-truck is also shown parked near the crash site. KABC-TV reports that the flatbed truck driver stopped at the accident scene and helped rescue people from the bus.
“It’s a little early to determine whether it was driver error,” said CHP Officer Saul Gomez. “We are worried more about the injured people than the actual investigation itself.”
Another CHP officer told reporters that the organization would conduct a “very thorough” inspection of the bus to determine whether a mechanical error was to blame.
NBC Los Angeles reports that the bus was operated by Da Zhen Travel Agency, a Monterey Park-based tour bus company that offers day trips to California casinos and Las Vegas.
Bus accidents such as this one are surprisingly common in Southern California. The popularity of coach bus services has increased during the past few years, and many coach buses are poorly maintained and operated. Tour bus operators that fail to safely maintain and operate their vehicles are generally liable for all damages that arise out of a crash including medical expenses, lost wages, pain, and suffering, among other things.
The law firm of Greene Broillet & Wheeler, LLP, handles bus accident cases such as this one. Our legal team has a national reputation for excellence and was named the #1 personal injury law firm in California by Best Lawyers in America.