The California Highway Patrol reports that one of the five people who died as a result of Tuesday's tour bus crash on Highway 101 at Front Street in Soledad was the driver.
The CHP report includes the following details:
On April 28, 2009 at approximately 1523 hours, CHP Monterey Communications Center received a 911 call of a reported overturned tour bus in the southbound lanes of US-101, on an overcrossing, near Front Street. An Orion Pacific tour bus (V1) with 34 French Nationals, one French Canadian (tour guide), and an American bus driver left San Francisco around 0815 hrs, traveling south on US-101 toward Santa Maria.
As V1 traveled over the Front Street over crossing, near the city of Soledad, for reasons still under investigation, the driver lost control, causing V1 to leave the roadway and strike the east side guardrail. The bus continued out of control, subsequently overturning.
Several occupants were ejected, including three to four passengers who were ejected over the east side of the over crossing onto the lower level.
Three total passengers were confirmed deceased at the scene. The other passengers were transported to local and Bay Area hospitals to be treated for injuries. A 13-year-old passenger was transported by air ambulance to Fresno Community Regional Medical Center. Two additional passengers were later declared deceased.
Five fatalities have been confirmed as a result of this collision. The driver of the tour bus was among the five fatalities. Several passengers remain in critical condition.
The tour bus came to rest on its right side facing a northerly direction. This collision is still under investigation. Names of victims are pending notifications.
The passengers were French Nationals who arrived on April 19, in Los Angeles to tour California. The French tourists were returning to Los Angeles to prepare to return to France when this collision occurred. The California Highway Patrol, the French Consulate, and American Red Cross have been coordinating to provide housing, food, and transportation for the victims.
The southbound lanes of US-101 remain closed pending guardrail repair by CALTRANS. The southbound lanes of US-101 have been diverted to the northbound lanes of US-101 to allow continued travel along US-101 southbound.
The CHP report includes the following details:
On April 28, 2009 at approximately 1523 hours, CHP Monterey Communications Center received a 911 call of a reported overturned tour bus in the southbound lanes of US-101, on an overcrossing, near Front Street. An Orion Pacific tour bus (V1) with 34 French Nationals, one French Canadian (tour guide), and an American bus driver left San Francisco around 0815 hrs, traveling south on US-101 toward Santa Maria.
As V1 traveled over the Front Street over crossing, near the city of Soledad, for reasons still under investigation, the driver lost control, causing V1 to leave the roadway and strike the east side guardrail. The bus continued out of control, subsequently overturning.
Several occupants were ejected, including three to four passengers who were ejected over the east side of the over crossing onto the lower level.
Three total passengers were confirmed deceased at the scene. The other passengers were transported to local and Bay Area hospitals to be treated for injuries. A 13-year-old passenger was transported by air ambulance to Fresno Community Regional Medical Center. Two additional passengers were later declared deceased.
Five fatalities have been confirmed as a result of this collision. The driver of the tour bus was among the five fatalities. Several passengers remain in critical condition.
The tour bus came to rest on its right side facing a northerly direction. This collision is still under investigation. Names of victims are pending notifications.
The passengers were French Nationals who arrived on April 19, in Los Angeles to tour California. The French tourists were returning to Los Angeles to prepare to return to France when this collision occurred. The California Highway Patrol, the French Consulate, and American Red Cross have been coordinating to provide housing, food, and transportation for the victims.
The southbound lanes of US-101 remain closed pending guardrail repair by CALTRANS. The southbound lanes of US-101 have been diverted to the northbound lanes of US-101 to allow continued travel along US-101 southbound.
