By John S. Marshall
The Associated Press
SAN FRANCISCO — A woman was killed, her husband critically injured and nine other people had less serious injuries when a party bus ran head-on into a small car that was stopped on a highway south of San Francisco, authorities said.
The 36-year-old woman wasn’t named but she was the wife of 43-year-old Raul Padilla, who was driving the red Honda that appeared to have slammed into a center divider on U.S. 101 before coming to rest facing oncoming traffic, California Highway Patrol Officer Art Montiel said.
After the Honda stopped, the party bus carrying 18 people hit the car. Two other cars were also involved in the wreck, but no one from either was hurt.
“We’re still trying to figure out who came into contact with what,” Montiel said.
The couple had “consumed alcohol” before the crash, but toxicology tests would have to be conducted to determine if Padilla had been OK to drive, Montiel said.
“If it is determined he was under the influence, he could face felony DUI charges and manslaughter charges,” Montiel said.
The nine people hurt from the bus had minor-to-moderate injuries, officials said.
The crash in Redwood City about 25 miles south of San Francisco was just a few miles away from the San Mateo Bridge, where five women heading to a bridal party were killed in a limousine fire three weeks ago.
The southbound side of U.S. 101 was closed for about two hours for the investigation.
Padilla had been wearing his seatbelt, but his wife had not, according to the CHP.
The bus, which was towed to an impound yard, was equipped with seatbelts, but Montiel did not know how many, if any, of the passengers were wearing them at the time of the crash. Bus passengers in California are not required to wear seatbelts, Montiel said.
It was not immediately clear what company owned the bus, or who was using it.