At least five people were killed early Tuesday when a bus swerved and crashed into a sign pole inCalifornia’s Central Valley, local media reported. The impact sliced the bus in half almost to its middle.
The California Highway Patrol said the white charter bus carrying 30 people was heading north on Highway 99 near Livingston in Merced County when the accident occurred around 3:25 a.m. local time, Fresno TV station KMPH and NBC affiliate KSEE reported.
California Highway Patrol Officer Moises Onsurez told KSEE that the sign pole sheared through the center of the vehicle.
The bus started its journey in Mexico, stopped in Los Angeles on Monday night and was on its way to the Sacramento area Tuesday, Sacramento TV station, KKHTK reported. Its eventual destination was Washington state, California Highway Patrol said. Five passengers, some with severe injuries, including missing limbs, were airlifted to local hospitals, KKHTK reported.