A tragic accident occurred early Sunday morning on a Los Angeles area freeway, resulting in one death and 32 injuries. The crash involved a tour bus and a sport utility vehicle (SUV) around 5 a.m. in Hacienda Heights, located about 20 miles east of downtown Los Angeles.
According to the California Highway Patrol (CHP), the SUV’s sole occupant died after the vehicle caught fire following the collision. The bus, which was carrying 63 people, collided with the rear of the disabled SUV. After the impact, the bus veered off course, hitting the guardrail.
CHP Officer Zachary Salazar reported that two individuals from the bus are in critical condition, while others suffered injuries that ranged from moderate to minor. A passenger on the bus, Joe Runnel, described the chaotic scene, stating that people were "begging for mercy" and that he was thrown from his seat during the crash.
The bus was traveling from the Indio area near Palm Springs to Koreatown in Los Angeles. Initially, there was confusion about the bus’s origin, with some reports stating it was coming from Morongo.
Emergency responders quickly arrived at the scene, and the highway was closed for several hours while the situation was managed. By late morning, all lanes of State Route 60 were reopened.
The fire from the SUV did not spread to the bus, but the front of the bus sustained significant damage, including a shattered windshield. Of the 63 people on board, 31 were able to leave the scene in another bus.
This incident highlights the dangers of highway travel and the potential for tragic outcomes when vehicles collide. The investigation is ongoing to determine the exact cause of the SUV’s failure before the crash.