SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY - One person was killed and 23 others were injured Monday afternoon when a church bus crashed on Highway 189, about 70 miles east of Los Angeles, the Los Angeles Times and multiple media outlets reported. The collision was reported about one-half mile north of Lake Gregory near Crestline at about 11:45 a.m. on February 21, 2011. According to a press release from the San Bernardino Sheriff-Coroner Department, the driver of the bus, Won Seok Chae, 61, of Los Angeles, lost control of the bus on a curve. The bus went over double yellow lines and struck a northbound Nissan Murano SUV head-on before striking a telephone pull and going down an embankment. Chae was extricated at the scene and died at the scene at 1:25 p.m. The rest of the passengers were taken to area hospitals, including Loma Linda Medical Center, Arrowhead Regional Medical Center, and Community Hospital of San Bernardino with injuries ranging from minor to major. The cause of the San Bernardino County bus crash is under investigation by the California Highway Patrol.
Most of the passengers on the bus were middle school and high school students and members of the predominantly-Korean Light of Love Mission Church. Four adults and 18 teenagers were on the bus. According to a deacon at the church, the bus driver was a professional tour bus driver who had volunteered to transport the students to a weekend retreat in Twin Peaks at the Pinecrest Christian Conference Center.
Cause of the Crash
The CHP will thoroughly investigate this accident and provide an official report of the cause of the crash. However, based on the information provided in news reports, it appears that speed may have been a factor. On winding roads such as this stretch of Highway 189, speed is a common cause or contributing factor of accidents such as this bus crash near Crestline. It is also possible that a defective in the bus, such as failing brakes, could be a factor. Hopefully, the investigation by law enforcement will provide answers as to what happened, and who was responsible.
Bus Accident Passenger Injury Liability
California Highway Patrol Officer Mario Lopez told the LA Times that there were no seat belts on the bus. Although seat belts are not required, it is likely that many of the serious injuries sustained in this accident could have been avoided if the passengers had been wearing seat belts. While this devastating accident remains under investigation, the parents and family members of the injured passengers would be well-advised to speak with an experienced and knowledgeable Los Angeles bus accident attorney about this church bus accident and the victims' legal rights. Lawyers who have represented victims of tragic church bus accidents such as this one can explain the unique liability issues that arise from accidents such as this February 21st Pasadena church bus crash in San Bernardino County, and the victims' rights to recover compensation for their serious injuries and related expenses.
Sources: Los Angeles Times, Fox News, KTLA
My family and I were the first ones one the scene. We were on our way to see my new house (im getting married) when we saw the power lines down. Thats when out of the corner of my eye I saw the bus. There was another guy and his son just standing there taking pics and doing nothing. He didnt even call 911. We had no service so we asked him to call. Me and my dad slid down the embankment to the bus. He went and started breaking windows before realizing there were back doors and started to help people. I never went in but brought some girls our jackets. I held one of the girls she said her name was Julia. She kept asking me if she was alive and if this was real. I just held and comforted her. I am assuming she is around my age (19). The bus was destroyed and it took a while for me to notice what I assumed to be the bus driver crumpled up where the front tire should be. That is what started me to cry, I couldnt imagine what they were feeling. How can I move up there after seeing somthing like this? But Julia who just kept saying thank you over and over and fading in and out of reality kept me focused on her. I pray that those who perished were belivers and didnt feel any pain, and those injured wont loose sight of God and feel that this is a punishment of some sort. I have up close photos from the scene when we arrived but they are way to graphic to show. Unfortunatly the images wont leave my head. One of the cops said that this was the worst he has seen in 27 years on the force. All I can say is these images and the ones on the news arn't even close to showing you the tragedy these poor people went through.