More details have emerged in the fatal wreck that involved a motorist and a Chumash Casino bus.
The California Highway Patrol said Friday afternoon that the person killed was driving in the wrong direction, northbound, on the southbound lane of Highway 101, just north of Los Alamos.
The motorist who was killed was driving a Honda Civic. When the CHP arrived shortly after the 3:05 a.m. crash, both the Honda Civic and the bus were “fully engulfed” in flames in the fast lane.
The CHP said Friday that 13 passengers on the bus, including the driver, exited safely. The unidentified driver was declared dead at the scene. Their name is not being released until relatives are notified.
The driver of the Chumash Casino, who survived the crash, was identified as Rema Alicia Padilla of Santa Maria, according to the CHP. The passengers suffered minor and moderate injuries, and several were taken to Marian Regional Hospital.
The fire spread to the nearby road, but all lanes have traffic have since re-opened.
The investigation remains ongoing.
“Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this tragic collision and the families impacted,” Acting Commander Sergeant D. Youngblood, said in a statement. “The California Highway Patrol remains committed to conducting a thorough investigation to determine all of the circumstances surrounding this crash and to promoting safe driving behaviors that help prevent tragedies like this.”
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