A bus crash in the San Bernardino Mountains on Sunday night has led to a declaration of a mass casualty incident by firefighters. Three dozen individuals were aboard the bus at the time of the accident, details of which remain scarce. The cause of the crash is yet to be established.
California Highway Patrol, the San Bernardino County Fire Department, among other agencies, responded to the incident just before 9 p.m., following reports of an overturned bus on State Route 330 near mile marker 38, in the Fredalba neighborhood of Running Springs. The bus was reportedly returning from a church event, carrying the participants back to Santa Ana.
A witness following the bus, who knew several passengers, disclosed this information to OnScene.TV, a video news service. The witness also added that the passengers aboard the vehicle were primarily young attendees of the church event. Video footage from the scene depicts a myriad of first responders, hastily setting up a triage to evaluate the bus occupants conditions.
San Bernardino County fire officials reported a total of 36 people on the bus, comprising both adults and teenagers. Out of these, 20 patients were transported to the hospital, with three suffering from severe injuries. Other passengers incurred minor injuries, did not require transportation, or reported no injuries. Highway 330, from Live Oak near Running Springs to Highland Avenue in Highland, underwent closure following the crash. As of Monday morning, the highway has been reopened.
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