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At least seven killed in tour bus and truck crash near Palm Springs, California Thirteen killed in tour bus and truck crash near Palm Springs, California
(about 3 hours later)
A tour bus and a semi-truck crashed on a highway in southern California early on Sunday, killing at least seven people, the California highway patrol said. A tour bus and a semi-truck crashed on a highway in southern California early on Sunday, killing 13 people, the California highway patrol said.
Officer Stephanie Hamilton confirmed the fatalities to the Desert Sun newspaper in Palm Springs, as of 7.30am PT. The newspaper reported that more bodies were being removed by firefighters who used ladders to climb into the windows of the bus. Highway patrol division chief Jim Abele said the early morning crash killed 13 and injured 31 people when the bus, en route to Los Angeles from the Red Earth Casino in Thermal, California, hit the truck. The bus was traveling much faster than the truck, and its impact was so strong, Abele said, that the bus went about 15 feet into the trailer.
Abele said it’s not clear whether the bus was speeding or whether alcohol, drugs or fatigue played a role in the incident.
Photographs showed the front of the passenger bus pushed into the semi-truck’s trailer after the wreck on Interstate 10 in Desert Hot Springs, near the desert resort town of Palm Springs.Photographs showed the front of the passenger bus pushed into the semi-truck’s trailer after the wreck on Interstate 10 in Desert Hot Springs, near the desert resort town of Palm Springs.
Responders used tow trucks to lift the trailer to provide easier access and pull the semi-truck forward, the newspaper reported.Responders used tow trucks to lift the trailer to provide easier access and pull the semi-truck forward, the newspaper reported.
At least 30 victims were taken to hospitals. Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs received 14 patients: five in critical condition, three in serious condition and six with minor injuries, hospital director of marketing Rich Ramhoff said.At least 30 victims were taken to hospitals. Desert Regional Medical Center in Palm Springs received 14 patients: five in critical condition, three in serious condition and six with minor injuries, hospital director of marketing Rich Ramhoff said.
Eleven people with minor injuries were sent to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, said spokesperson Lee Rice. JFK Medical Center in Indio received five patients, all with minor injuries, chief development officer Linda Evans said.Eleven people with minor injuries were sent to Eisenhower Medical Center in Rancho Mirage, said spokesperson Lee Rice. JFK Medical Center in Indio received five patients, all with minor injuries, chief development officer Linda Evans said.
The cause of the crash was not yet known. The highway patrol said all westbound lanes of the highway were closed and traffic was being diverted.The cause of the crash was not yet known. The highway patrol said all westbound lanes of the highway were closed and traffic was being diverted.
The bus may have been coming from Red Earth Casino, near the Salton Sea, the highway patrol said. Officer Hamilton said the driver was one of the owners of the tour bus company, Los Angeles-based USA Holiday.The bus may have been coming from Red Earth Casino, near the Salton Sea, the highway patrol said. Officer Hamilton said the driver was one of the owners of the tour bus company, Los Angeles-based USA Holiday.
The company has one vehicle and one driver, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Records on the agency’s website show the company had no crashes and one inspection in the two years before 22 October and had a satisfactory safety rating.The company has one vehicle and one driver, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration. Records on the agency’s website show the company had no crashes and one inspection in the two years before 22 October and had a satisfactory safety rating.
A phone and Facebook message left for the company was not immediately returned. Its Facebook page had postings about trips leaving the Los Angeles area to casinos around the Coachella Valley and Las Vegas.A phone and Facebook message left for the company was not immediately returned. Its Facebook page had postings about trips leaving the Los Angeles area to casinos around the Coachella Valley and Las Vegas.