Fatal Bus Crash Near Orange County
A fatal roll over bus accident off Interstate 15 in North San Diego County, California killed several people on Saturday, February 22, 2020, and seriously injured many others. Emergency crews arrived on the scene at 10:20 a.m., finding many people trapped in the wreckage. The bus was traveling South bound on Interstate 15, and slid down an embankment just south of Highway 76, south of Fallbrook in San Diego County, which is approximately 45 miles north of San Diego, close to the Orange County border.
One of the people killed in the bus crash was a 73-year-old Pasadena woman. A second woman named Julia Cornejo Perez was also killed during the bus crash. Maria De La Luz Diaz, age 67, and an unidentified 23-year-old woman were also killed in the crash.
A total of 17 people were transported to local hospitals with serious injuries. One of those injured was a 5-year-old San Diego boy. The boy was airlifted to a hospital in Moreno Valley with serious head injuries. Of the 17 injured, 11 were hospitalized with serious injuries and six sustained minor injuries. A total of 21 people were on-board the bus.
The early morning bus accident occurred after the bus rolled down an embankment on a dirt shoulder on Highway 76. Several people were thrown from the bus as it overturned. The bus finally landed on its roof, according to CHP Officer Mark Latulippe.
The National Transportation and Safety Board as well as the San Diego Sheriff’s Department are currently investigating the wreck. The bus was equipped with seatbelts. A part of the investigation will be to determine which passengers were wearing their seatbelts at the time the wreck occurred.
The driver was taken to the hospital for treatment. Police say he gave a statement and is fully cooperating with the investigation. Although it is unknown at the time why the bus lost control, it is not believed that the driver was impaired at the time of the incident. It was raining at the time.
The tour bus was traveling to Tijuana, Mexico from El Monte, picking up passengers along the way through out Orange County and Riverside. The trip included stops in Pomona, Baldwin Park, El Monte, and Riverside when the wreck occurred. The bus is registered to Executive Lines, Inc., based out of El Monte.
The bus had been inspected at least 18 times in the past two years. One of those inspections resulted in the removal of the bus for a violation, though it is unclear exactly what type of violation.
More than 192 accidents were reported in the city of San Diego in 2018. These accidents claimed the lives of 62 people. Both commercial and non-commercial vehicles were involved in the accidents reported in the city. One of the primary causes of vehicle accidents is drunk or impaired driving. A secondary cause is distracted driving.
Reckless driving is yet another common cause of accidents in Orange County and throughout California. People commit the act of reckless driving when they speed, drive aggressively, fail to obey road laws, etc. It is important to follow all laws, including speed limits, even when they may seem ridiculous or when you are in a hurry.
Laws are put in place to protect us and while we like to think we know best, that sometimes is not the case. Speed limits and road laws are in place to keep drivers and pedestrians safe and free from the hardships caused when an accident such as this one near Orange County. If you have been injured in a car accident due to the negligence of another, contact an Orange County accident lawyer for help.
If you have a loved one that was the victim in a wrongful death accident caused by a reckless driver, an intoxicated driver, or a negligent driver, you should speak to a wrongful death attorney. Most offer free consultations to discuss the case and help you learn how they can ensure justice in your case.
Disclaimer: As the result of secondary sources used to complete this post, Chudleigh Law P.C. has not independently verified all facts. If you read something that in inaccurate please contact us and we will correct the inaccuracy. As members of the Orange County and the broader Southern California community, we hope everyone in our community is safe and protected. We cover events in this blog as a way to offer support to the victims, and raise awareness to increase the safety of all drivers in Orange County, CA. However, this information should not be construed as legal advice.
