Northern California Greyhound bus accident kills 2, hurts 18

The bus appears to have been the only vehicle involved in the crash.

According to Miceli, the driver said he was aware that the bus struck the barrels, then he lost consciousness.

He said that after he and his girlfriend climbed out of the bus, they saw people lying face down on the concrete.

The accident is under investigation. Nine passengers were taken to area hospitals, one with serious injuries and the others, including a 7-year-old child and driver, with minor injuries.

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

The CHP later said that the driver told investigators that he was tired prior to the crash and got coffee at a prior stop in Gilroy.

It was unclear what caused the bus to hit the barrels, Miceli said. The passenger claimed the bus driver fell asleep. “There is a camera in the bus, and we’re not clear as to what kind of video image, if any, was captured of the collision, but that’s definitely something that we’re going to look at”, Miceli said.

Aerial footage of the scene showed the damaged bus on its side, blocking several lanes, with debris spilled onto the roadway.

San Jose Fire Capt. Christopher Salcido said five people suffered moderate injuries, and 13 others suffered minor injuries.

The driver, one of the people taken to the hospital, will be asked to submit a blood sample to test for alcohol and drugs.

The CHP said the diamond lanes in both directions would be blocked for at least eight hours. The National Transportation Safety Board spokesperson Eric Weiss says the federal agency is sending a team to investigate the fatal accident.

The California Highway Patrol said 39 passengers and the driver were aboard the bus when it flipped onto the center divider.

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

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