California Bus Crash: 20 Injured, 3 Critically, After Church Camp Bus Overturns on Treacherous Mountain Road
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A terrifying scene unfolded on a winding mountain road in Southern California when a bus carrying 36 people, mostly teens and young adults returning from a church camp, overturned on Sunday night. The incident occurred on State Route 330 near Running Springs, about 70 miles northeast of Los Angeles, and sent 20 people to the hospital, with three suffering major injuries. According to the San Bernardino County Fire Department, first responders arrived at the scene to find the bus on its side, with passengers escaping through a roof hatch. Paramedics treated 26 patients, including those with major injuries, at the scene, before transporting 20 to nearby hospitals by ground ambulance. Among the injured was Cyntia Ramirez, a 21-year-old community college student, who suffered a stiff neck and a fractured arm in the crash. She recounted how the bus started shaking and swerving before losing control, causing it to tip over. The bus was carrying participants from a three-day youth retreat at Camp Nawakwa, a Catholic church event organized by the Diocese of Orange. The group was returning to Orange County when the incident occurred. Jarryd Gonzales, a spokesperson for the Diocese, expressed gratitude to the first responders for their prompt and professional response. The investigation into the crash is ongoing, led by the California Highway Patrol, which has closed the route in both directions. Father José Félix Troncoso, who led Mass for the group on Sunday, described the treacherous mountain road as a 'process' to get to the scenic destination. The incident has left the community shaken, with some bus passengers returning to the church to retrieve their luggage.
