Two Killed in San Jose Greyhound Bus Crash

The bus was traveling north on Highway 101 in San Jose when it plowed into safety barrels and flipped on its side onto a concrete median divider.

The force ejected Fely Olivera, 51, of San Francisco, and Maria De Jesus Ortiz Velasquez, 76, of Salinas, who both died at the scene, officials said.

Salcido said five passengers suffered moderate injuries and 13 suffered minor injuries.

Officials are seen responding to a deadly crash involving a Greyhound bus in San Jose on January 19, 2016.

One of the passengers said the bus was half-full with 20 passengers.

As the two funerals are being planned, the California Highway Patrol’s Coastal Division Multi-Disciplinary Accident Investigation Team is beginning to lead the investigation into the fatal crash. Others were taken to Regional Medical Center of San Jose, Valley Medical Center, and Good Samaritan Hospital.

Larry Hanley, president of the Amalgamated Transit Union, which represents Greyhound bus drivers, told NBC Bay Area he did not have firsthand knowledge of the accident early Tuesday morning.

The bus driver will be asked to submit a blood sample to determine if drugs or alcohol were involved, which is standard procedure in such incidents, Miceli said. They were taken to nearby hospitals and 10 others were transported by a chartered bus to San Francisco. The driver began his shift in L.A., and the company requires operators to rest nine hours between trips, she said.

The crumpled bus remained on its right side, straddling the center median, throughout the morning.

Authorities have not released the identity of the victims.

Antonio Olivera says his mother was returning home to San Francisco from Los Angeles, where she had visited his two brothers.

The cause of the crash has not yet been determined, Gipson said.

CHP Sgt. Lisa Brazil said passengers on the bus told investigators that everyone on board was sleeping at the time of the crash.

The accident is being investigated and the Santa Clara County district attorney has been notified, Miceli said.

Hill said the bus was traveling northbound, but it was facing southbound on the south side of the road.

Traffic was already snarled due to rainy conditions, but the accident had cars stopped along the northbound section of Highway 101 for several miles.