A California tour bus en route to Washington state left the roadway near Pollard Flat in Shasta County and overturned on the morning Sunday, Nov. 23, 2014, leaving at least one person dead and dozens of others wounded. The bus had allegedly been involved in a crash earlier that day, having bumped into a restaurant building but neither sustaining nor causing any serious damages of injuries in that accident.
It is estimated that 33 people were on the bus at the time of the fatal accident, and all of those who survived are currently being treated at an area hospital for their injuries, two of whom were transported there by helicopter due to the life-threatening nature of their wounds. There is no word at this time as to the condition of any of the passengers who were on the bus at the time of the accident. Witnesses reported seeing injured passengers wrapped in “shock blankets,” some of them stained with the blood of the wounded.
The victim who lost his life in the crash has not yet had his identity made public, but it is known that he was a 33 year old male. The driver of the bus has been identified as 67-year-old Jose Garcilazo Palencia who hails from Los Angeles County, California. The bus was reportedly traveling along northbound Interstate 5 when the driver lost control of the vehicle and left the highway, sliding down an embankment and overturning onto Eagles Roost Road below. The bus landed on its roof, which was crushed from the force of the crash. The damages to the bus were extensive, making for a total loss.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the incident, and at this time driver fatigue is strongly suspected in playing a role in the crash. There is no suspicion of drugs or alcohol being a factor in the accident, nor is there any explanation as to why the bus was permitted to continue traveling after the first minor accident it had been involved in that day.