The bus that crashed on a Southern California mountain highway, leaving seven dead and dozens injured, had a history of brake and other maintenance problems. It recorded 22 safety violations in five inspections between 2011 and 2012.
San Bernardino Battalion Chief Ron Walls in California say more people could be dead after an accident Sunday night involving a bus, a pickup truck and a car. At least seven people are reported to be dead.
San Bernardino County Fire Department and other rescuers responded about 6:30 p.m. Sunday to a bus crash at Highway 38 near Bryant Street near Yucaipa, California. Six passengers were ejected from the bus in a crash that involved a Saturn and a Ford pickup truck.
The bus, which apparently was traveling too fast for conditions, struck a Saturn, started to overturn, was uprighted when it hit a boulder, and then hit a Ford pickup truck.
The Saturn had three vehicle occupants, and the Ford pickup truck was occupied by only the driver. All occupants in the Saturn and the pickup truck were also injured.
The San Bernardino County Coroner’s Office identified six of those killed in the crash:
Guadalupe Olivas, 61, of San Diego
Elvira Garcia Jimenez, 40, of San Diego
Victor Cabrera Garcia, 13, of San Diego
Aleida Adriana Arce Hernandez, 38, of Tijuana, Mexico
Rubicelia Escobedo Flores, 34, of Tijuana
Mario Garcia Santoyo, 32, of Tijuana
Relatives and friends of the crash victims are asked to call 909-633-1982 for the latest information and assistance.
Over the past year, the National City-based company was cited for 36 safety violations involving its vehicles, including brake problems and insufficient tire tread. It scored worse than 75 percent of U.S. bus companies with a similar number of inspections for vehicle maintenance, the government records show.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating brake failure and driver error as factors in the crash. The bus owned by Scapadas Magicas LLC was cited in July for a faulty axle and brakes, according to the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration.
Scapadas Magicas LLC, based in National City-based company was cited for 36 safety violations involving its vehicles, including brake problems and insufficient tire tread during the past year. According to government records, Scapadas Magicas LLC scored worse than 75 percent of bus companies in the United States with a similar number of inspections for vehicle maintenance.
See also …
The Sun Crews clear scene of fatal bus crash on Hwy 38; six victims identified
The Press-Enterprise YUCAIPA: Bus company has history of safety violations
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