Tour Bus kills French tourists
April 29, 2009
Soledad, California – A tour bus overturned near a California Highway overpass Tuesday afternoon, killing five of its passengers and injuring several others.
Officials from the California Highway Patrol said that the tour bus was carrying French tourists en route to Southern California where they were scheduled to fly out back to France when it crashed on a guard rail on the southbound overpass of US 101.
Four passengers were ejected from vehicle after the crash, one landing on a railroad track 60-70 feet below. The American driver and the Canadian tour guide suffered minor injuries.
The bus, operated by Orion Pacific Tour Bus Co., carried 36 passengers including the driver and the tour guide. Three of the fatalities died on the spot while two died while being treated at the hospital.
The rest of the injured tourists were brought to at least 9 different hospitals in the Fresno and San Francisco areas.
The American Red Cross is coordinating with local authorities to find temporary housing and other services for the families that have already been released from the hospital.
The tour bus company has been unavailable for comment but a spokesperson said that they would release a press statement soon.
CHP officials said that they would look into Orion Pacific’s safety record.
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