The driver of a school bus and at least 12 students were injured, some of them seriously, when the vehicle lost control, went off the highway and crashed against trees and a light post, authorities reported.
The accident happened on the afternoon of Thursday, April 24 in southern California, when the El Rancho school bus was dropping off students at their homes.
The strength of the impact caused the vehicle to split in half and tore off trees before stopping next to the road, according to Reuters.
The bus driver was trapped inside the bent metal, and at least 10 firemen were needed to free the man, who was immediately taken to a nearby hospital.
Two students were taken to the University of California Irvine Medical Center and their health is reported as severe, while nine other students suffered minor injuries which do not put their lives at risk, reported The Associated Press, quoted by ABC.
The same source detailed that California's Highway Patrol is investigating the accident and has revealed that it's possible that the driver did not managed to hit the brakes before he lost control of the vehicle and went off the road.
A school spokesman said that all the students were going back to their homes when the accident happened and all of them have reunited with their parents, whether at hospitals or at home, reported Reuters.
California authorities said that the bus had seat belts, but for the moment it is unknown whether the students were wearing it. This is the second accident of its kind in a month, after another school bus crashed against a FedEx truck and a private vehicle on April 10.
In that accident, 10 people died and dozens were injured.
Video via ABC.
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