Nine killed in Oregon tour bus crash

Updated 9:09 p.m. ET

LA GRANDE, Ore. A tour bus careened through a guardrail along an icy Oregon highway and several hundred feet down a steep embankment Sunday, killing nine people and injuring more than 20 others, authorities said.

The charter bus carrying about 40 people lost control around 10:30 a.m. on the snow- and ice-covered lanes of Interstate 84, according to the Oregon State Police.

The bus came to rest at the bottom of a snowy slope. More than a dozen rescue workers descended the hill and used ropes to help retrieve people from the wreckage in freezing weather. The bus driver was among the survivors, but had not yet spoken to police because of the severity of the injuries the driver had suffered.

Lt. Greg Hastings said the bus crashed along the west end of the Blue Mountains, and west of an area called Deadman Pass. Stretches of highway in the rural and agricultural area of east Oregon tend to be icy in winter months.

The bus slid down the hill and landed upright, with little or no debris visible around the crash site.

St. Anthony Hospital in Pendleton treated 26 people from the accident, including some who were treated and then transported to other medical facilities, said hospital spokesman Larry Blanc.

In addition to the people who were transferred from St. Anthony to La Grand and Hermiston, Ore., and Walla Walla, Wash., Hastings said. Others were taken directly to hospitals further away, including Boise, Idaho, and Portland, Ore.

I-84 is a major east-west highway through Oregon that follows the Columbia River Gorge.

Umatilla County Emergency Manager Jack Remillard said the bus was owned by Mi Joo travel in Vancouver, B.C., and state police said the bus was en route from Las Vegas to Vancouver.

A woman who answered the phone at a listing for the company confirmed with The Associated Press that it owned the bus and said it was on a tour of the Western U.S. She declined to give her name.

A bus safety website run by the U.S. Department of Transportation said Mi Joo Tour & Travel has six buses, none of which have been involved in any accidents in at least the past two years.

The bus crash was the second fatal accident in Oregon on Sunday morning due to icy conditions. A 69-year-old man died in a single-vehicle rollover accident. CBS affiliate KOIN-TV in Portland reports both the 26-year-old driver, who is expected to survive, and the deceased passenger were wearing safety restraints.

[oregonborn]

This bus flew past us just outside of Ontario, OR. We witnessed the bus tailgating and switching between lanes frequently. This stretch of the road was foggy and the left lane on west bound I-84 was packed ice. Judging by our speed and how quickly the bus passed us he must have been going between 60-65. That is just a guess but he was going faster than he needed to regardless. Prayers go out to the victims.

[mycbsusername]

Does the NRA pay you guys by the post or by the hour?

[ralphing]

I wouldn't get on a tour bus because you have no idea about the training or licensing of the driver.

[bebopp222]

Whatever in the world do all these negative comments have to do with anything???

ESPECIALLY the tragic bus accident....???

[Ulgnud]

I have driven that pass several times. It is steep and treacherous. I am sorry those folks were killed and injured. ODOT makes a huge effort to clear the road as best as possible. For that we are thankful.

[fishdog021]

I was one of the Paramedics on this call. It was a very bad wreck, and most of the injured were of Asian decent, and spoke little to no English; this added to the challenges we faced. The area is rural and only has a few full time paid fire/ems departments. The volunteers, locals, police and paid EMT's did a great job, and only two person passed away after the first unit showed up. That is remarkable for the incidents location, damage to the bus,and equipment that was available. To correct the article; the bus rolled several times, ejecting numerous people, there was lots of bus parts all the way down the hill. The bus lost control on the ice and was unable to correct before going down a 150 yard very steep hill. There was 20-25 rescue vehicles, and around 50 personnel that assisted in the rescue efforts. Thanks again for the local support and all the people that came to help! We could have not done it with out you!!!!!

[bebopp222]

FISHDOG021.....
Thank you so very much to you and all who responded to this tragic accident. How sad for everyone involved.! Prayers to all the families.

[jacemegatron]

FISHDOG021, I can't thank you enough. My parents were two of the individuals that were on this bus. My dad broke every rib and his pelvis and was taken to Boise, ID. My mom suffered a broken collarbone and arm. Thank you and thanks to the rest of the team for the timely response and helping these individuals out.

[bearfoot33]

hardy har har....you 4 sure are witty..NOT!!!

[pedalit]

witty AND original, ain't?

[Tex60]

The arguments used below are just as valid as the ones used by the News Media and the politicians wanting to ban guns. The Government is even making up numbers for the number of people they think will be killed in 2024, by motor vehicles and guns. Gun control is about control, Timothy McVeigh killed 168 and injured 800 people and never fired a shot. The point being; if someone wants to kill someone else the government can't legislate morality they will find a way to do it and taking guns from law abiding only makes it safer for the bad guys.

[OhWellWhoCare]

Ban "Bus Tour Assault", bus drivers must provide fingerprints, mental health check, scan for alcohol, must have high capacity brain cells before getting on the bus. Where is Feinstein? Oh, is she working on ban "NY Subway Assault" with Bloomberg?

[rgsyuma]

We do agree tour buses have killed so many innocent people. They should be banned along with swimming pools.

[JM68]

high-capacity vehicles must be BANNED now!!! for the children

[pedalit]

high capacity, brain, jm68 never to be associated

[teflondonn]

Shocked! A gun owner with no respect for human life.