A Mother’s Day bus crash left one dead and 32 hospitalized in Hacienda Heights early Sunday morning. According to the Los Angeles County Fire Department, a tour bus collided with a Nissan SUV on the 60 Freeway.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) said the impact of the collision caused the Nissan to burst into flames, trapping the driver. The vehicle was fully engulfed when crews arrived, authorities said, and the driver was later pronounced dead at the scene. He was the sole occupant in the vehicle.

The bus was carrying 62 passengers and the driver. The 32 injured passengers were transported to area hospitals, two in critical condition. None of the other 31 passengers were injured in the crash.

The tour bus, which was traveling from Morongo to Koreatown, sustained significant front-end damage, including a shattered windshield, and was stranded on the shoulder following the collision.

According to a preliminary CHP investigation, the Nissan was disabled for unknown reasons and stranded in the #1 lane when the bus crashed into the rear of the vehicle. The bus then veered to the right, crossing over all lanes and colliding with the raised guardrail along the right shoulder.

A witness driving in the westbound lane said the situation unfolded quickly and that, while everyone tried to stop, there was just not enough time to avoid a collision.

All westbound lanes of the 60 Freeway were completely shut down between Azusa Avenue and Hacienda Boulevard for several hours following the crash.

Lerner, Moore, Silva, Cunningham & Rubel is a full-service personal injury law firm. If you have been injured in an accident, call us at 909-889-1131 or complete our online form to schedule a free consultation. Located in Ontario and Victorville, California, we proudly serve clients in San Bernardino County, Ontario, Victorville, Hesperia, Apple Valley, Fontana, Rancho Cucamonga, Colton, and Riverside County.