Photo: California Highway Patrol
A tragic accident on Sunday (May 11) on State Route 60 in Hacienda Heights, Los Angeles, resulted in one death and injuries to 32 others. The crash involved a tour bus and a stationary Nissan SUV, according to the California Highway Patrol (CHP). The incident occurred just after 5:00 a.m. local time.
The tour bus, carrying 63 passengers, collided with the broken-down SUV, which then burst into flames, trapping and killing the SUV's driver. The identity of the deceased driver has not been released. The fire did not spread to the bus, but the collision caused the bus to veer across multiple lanes and crash into a guardrail.
Officer Zachary Salazar of the CHP confirmed that 32 people were hospitalized, with two in critical condition and the rest suffering moderate to minor injuries. The bus was traveling from Indio, California, to Koreatown in Los Angeles.
The cause of the SUV's breakdown remains unclear, and authorities have ruled out drugs or alcohol as factors in the crash. The investigation is ongoing. The accident led to the closure of the westbound lanes of the 60 Freeway, which were reopened later in the morning.
The CHP shared video footage showing the damaged bus leaning against the freeway shoulder, with its front destroyed and windshield shattered. Witnesses described the chaotic scene, with one passenger recounting being thrown from their seat during the impact.