UPDATE: The Fresno Bee has been live blogging this story, with consistent, up to the minute updates. Check it out here.
A Greyhound bus driving from Los Angeles to Sacramento collided with an overturned SUV in California’s Central Valley on Highway 99 near Fresno early Thursday morning. To avoid a second collision, confirms California Highway Patrol Officer Michelle Sigmond, the driver of the Greyhound swerved and crashed in to a concrete divider and a large eucalyptus tree. The bus accident led to 6 deaths and 34 injuries.
Among the deaths were the driver of the bus, four yet-to-be identified women, and likely one of the passengers in the overturned SUV. Authorities said injured passengers were taken to Community Regional Medical Center and other Valley hospitals.
“I had just woke up and I heard a boom once, and a boom again and the next thing I know we were down this embankment,” said Linda Gee, a passenger on the bus. “There was just bleeding everywhere…I’m alive and I thank God I’m alive.”
The Fresno bus accident is a tragic reminder that our highways need to be safer. Our thoughts are with the families of those killed and injured by Thursday’s accidents.
We’ll keep you updated with developments on this story as the situation becomes more clear.
Photo credit: heliosphan
Andy Gillin received his Bachelor’s Degree from the University of California at Berkeley and his law degree from the University of Chicago. He is the managing partner of GJEL Accident Attorneys and has written and lectured in the field of plaintiffs’ personal injury law for numerous organizations. Andy is a highly recognized wrongful death lawyer in California.