Nearly two dozen returning from youth retreat injured in overturned bus crash in San Bernardino County
Nearly two dozen people heading back from a youth church retreat were injured when a bus overturned in the San Bernardino Mountains on Sunday night.
The crash happened at around 8:50 p.m. on Highway 330 near mile marker 38 between Highland and Running Springs, according to the San Bernardino County Fire Department. The bus was one of several carrying teens, retreat staff, and volunteers from Our Lady of Guadalupe Catholic Church in Santa Ana that had departed from a three-day youth retreat in the San Bernardino Mountains.
Firefighters say that of the 36 people on board, 20 sustained injuries in the crash and were taken to nearby hospitals for treatment. Three of the patients suffered severe injuries, firefighters said.
"The remainder of the passengers suffered minor injuries and were not transported or reported no injury at all," said a post on X from firefighters.
It's unclear what led to the crash, but firefighters said that the bus was the only vehicle involved. They're still working with California Highway Patrol officers to determine the cause.
"We extend our deepest gratitude to the first-responder agencies for their prompt and professional response in safely evacuating passengers and ensuring they received proper medical attention," The Diocese of Orange said in a statement.
Two of the passengers on the bus spoke with CBS Los Angeles on Monday. They said that the bus driver began to shout that the brakes on the vehicle had gone out.
"I just hear the guy say, 'We lost the brakes.' And then I turned to my sister and I grabbed her and then I just prayed to God that everything was gonna be okay," said Ariana Rivera. "I thought we had gone off the cliff; that was my first thing. I was like, 'We've gone off the cliff, we're rolling down, this is it.'"
Her sister, Brittany, was sleeping when the driver began to alert passengers of the emergency. She said her first instinct was also to pray for their safety.
A carload of men who work at the church and were also at the camp rushed to help the dozens of riders get out of the bus via the emergency exit on the roof.
"It was chaos. it was a lot of chaos," Brittany Rivera said. "We were trying to get the girls out because they were scared. I was trying to stay calm, but then it got to me cause it's very scary."
They said that they don't blame anyone for the accident, and that they're lucky to have escaped with their health.
"Accidents happen. ... Anyone can have an accident, I don't blame the driver," Ariana Rivera said.
"So, for people to know that life could end in one second, and that made me realize that it's everything that God made a miracle," Brittany Rivera said.
Firefighters said that there was no fire or hazards on the bus.
San Bernardino National Forest personnel were assisting with the incident, as well as firefighters from the Big Bear, Arrowbear and Running Springs fire departments.
CBS Los Angeles has reached out to the bus company for comment on the crash, but has not yet heard back.
SR-330 was closed in both directions as the investigation continued. CHP officers urged drivers to use alternate routes like SR-18 to avoid the closure. There was no estimated timetable for when the road would reopen.