The California Highway Patrol was called to an accident along Interstate 15 around 10:20 a.m. in North County on Saturday morning. A charter bus was heading from Los Angeles to San Ysidro when it ended up in an embankment.

A witness to the crash stated that it appeared the bus hydroplaned prior to leaving the roadway. The California Highway Patrol is investigating to see how large of a role the rainy weather played in the accident.

The preliminary report that has been released states that the bus driver was driving south on Interstate 15 when he swerved and lost control of the bus. The bus slid down into the embankment and came to rest on the bus top.

Some passengers were ejected from the bus and others were trapped inside. There were some passengers who were able to escape on their own without assistance. Two of the women who were pronounced dead at the scene were extricated from the bus.

The third woman who was killed in the accident was pinned under the bus. It took hours for the emergency crews to reach her body due to the conditions of the ground around the bus.

The bus was not removed from the scene until around 6 p.m.           

The 18 other passengers who were injured were taken to area hospitals for treatment. The reports indicated that a 5-year-old boy was taken with serious head injuries. Three others were classified as being in serious condition.

The bus driver did receive minor injuries in the accident, however, he was taken to the police station from the scene to be questioned. He voluntarily submitted to a blood test.

The California Highway Patrol does not believe that drugs or alcohol were a factor in the accident.

Most of the passengers were on their way to Tijuana. The luggage from under the bus was strewn all over the side of the highway.

The bus was towed to the California Highway Patrol’s investigative lot to be looked over thoroughly. They want to rule out mechanical failures in the accident.

The passenger manifest consisted of adults and children. The seats were equipped with seat belts but it is estimated that only about 21 of them were utilized.

There have been no names released at this time, but as they are released, updates will be posted.

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