On Sunday night, a tragic incident involving a bus crash in the San Bernardino Mountains led to firefighters declaring a mass casualty situation. Thirty-six individuals were reported to be on the bus at the time of the incident, which ignited on impact.
Multiple agencies, including the California Highway Patrol and the San Bernardino County Fire Department, responded to the incident reports shortly before 9 p.m. The news points to an overturned bus on State Route 330 near mile marker 38 in the Fredalba neighborhood of Running Springs.
An eyewitness, who claimed to know many of the crash victims, provided crucial context to OnScene.TV. According to the witness, the bus occupants were young individuals returning from a church event in Santa Ana. This information is yet to be affirmed by official sources.
First responders from multiple disciplines quickly organized a triage to assess and treat the injured passengers. Video footage from the crash site revealed the substantial effort put in by these teams.
County fire officials revealed that both adults and teenagers were on board the bus at the time of the crash. A total of twenty patients have been admitted to the hospital, three of whom reportedly have severe injuries. The remaining passengers sustained minor injuries or were unharmed and did not require hospital transportation.
As a consequence of the accident, officials closed Highway 330 in both directions, stretching from Live Oak near Running Springs to Highland Avenue in Highland. The duration of the closure remains unknown at this time, leading officials to recommend State Route 18 as an alternative route.
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