Motor vehicle accidents often involve serious and life-threatening personal injuries. Many people having survived a vehicle accident report the experience as life-altering and a bittersweet reminder of the brevity of life. Unfortunately, one Southern California-area bus driver will face a constant reminder of his fate as his leg was severed following a multi-car pileup on Interstate 15 Wednesday afternoon.
The driver is an employee of Riverside Transit Authority (RTA), a transportation company based in Riverside, California. California Highway Patrol immediately responded to the accident and reported that the driver’s leg was nearly severed completely from the body at the scene of the accident. The driver is currently undergoing emergency surgery to try to repair as much of the leg as possible. His current condition is unknown at this time.
The crash took place on the southbound side of Interstate 15, north of Winchester Road, around 8:00 this morning. Investigators believe the bus driver did not realize that the line of cars in front of him had substantially slowed down to accommodate for heavy congestion and early morning traffic. By the time the bus driver realized the cars were stopped, it was too late to avoid a collision.
From there, the bus collided with another truck setting a chain reaction in place that eventually resulted in a five-vehicle accident. The truck that was hit by the bus was sent off the roadway and down an embankment. The bus continued to cross all five lanes of traffic and came to an eventual stop at the dividing median. The bus itself was virtually unrecognizable as a result of the extensive property damage.
In addition to the bus driver, six other individuals were taken to nearby area hospitals for treatment. Four were released with minor injuries while two others sustained “moderate” injuries- their current conditions or release statuses are unknown at this time.
California Highway Patrol is diligently piecing together the accident and continues its investigation.
