An early morning bus crash on I-10, just west of Blythe, Calif., closed the highway in both directions Wednesday. At least four people on a passenger bus headed to Los Angeles lost their lives in the crash.
The problems started when a semi hauling a load of steel pipes jack-knifed on the interstate, spilling the pipes across the freeway.
Terri Kasinga of the California Transportation Department says there were several crashes after the pipes fell from the truck.
“Four vehicles were involved in collisions subsequently from the pipe. A tour bus which originated in El Paso, Texas, heading to Los Angeles, struck that pipe and overturned," Kasinga said.
Kasinga says the bus slid across the shoulder and about 50 feet down a slight embankment.
The bus, operated by El Paso-Los Angeles Limousine Express, had changed drivers in Phoenix before continuing toward LA.
Kasinga says the bus company sent smaller charter buses to transport uninjured passengers to their destination.