At least one person was killed and 14 others were hurt early Friday after a wrong-way driver collided head-on with a Chumash Casino tour bus on Highway 101 north of Los Alamos.
According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash happened at about 3:05 a.m. when a Honda Civic traveling north in the southbound lanes struck the bus in the fast lane. Both vehicles caught fire following the impact.
The driver of the Honda was pronounced dead at the scene. Authorities have not released the person’s name, pending notification of relatives.
The bus driver and all 13 passengers managed to get out safely before the flames grew more intense. The driver of the bus was identified as Rema Alicia Padilla of Santa Maria.
Officials said passengers sustained injuries ranging from minor to moderate, and several people were taken to Marian Regional Hospital for medical care.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic collision and the families impacted,” CHP Acting Commander Sgt. D. Youngblood said in a statement to the Santa Barbara News-Press.
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“The California Highway Patrol remains committed to conducting a thorough investigation to determine all of the circumstances surrounding this crash and to promoting safe driving behaviors that help prevent tragedies like this.”
Santa Barbara County firefighters and other emergency crews responded quickly and extinguished the flames before they spread further to the bus. Highway 101 has since fully reopened.
Kenneth Kahn, tribal chairman for the Santa Ynez Band of Chumash Indians, told the Santa Barbara News-Press the tribe was grateful that all 14 team members on the bus evacuated safely.
“We are thankful that all 14 of our Team Members were able to safely evacuate the bus, be accounted for following the crash and avoid any further harm,” Kahn said.
“We would also like to express our sincere appreciation to the first responders, law enforcement personnel, and medical teams for their swift and professional response,” he added
The CHP investigation into the cause of the crash remains ongoing.
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