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Authorities are trying to determine if a bus driver fell asleep or passed out when she lost control of a bus on the 10 Freeway and crashed into a divider.
The driver, whose name has not been released, and seven passengers were injured when the Silver Streak bus drifted across four lanes before hitting a sound wall and the center divider on the San Bernardino (10) Freeway in Alhambra, according to City News Service.
The crash occurred around 8:45 p.m. Tuesday on the westbound side of the freeway just east of the Long Beach (710) Freeway interchange, the California Highway Patrol said.
Alhambra Fire Battalion Chief John Cermak told the San Gabriel Valley Tribune that he was surprised the bus didn't hit any cars.
"The whole right side of the bus is damaged. One of the rear tires was blown," Cermak told the Tribune.
The California Highway Patrol got a 911 call saying the bus driver fell asleep, according to the Tribune, but Foothill Transit spokeswoman Felicia Friesema said the driver lost consciousness. The driver came to, took control of the bus and stopped in the carpool lane, she added.
Cermak said one person was seriously injured while the other seven had minor injuries. They were taken to hospitals with injuries ranging from open lacerations to complaints of pain.
The carpool lane was closed at 8:47 p.m. and a SigAlert was canceled at 10:50 p.m.
