By Catherine Bowen
Contra Costa Times
FAIRFIELD, Calif. — A return trip to San Francisco from the state Capitol took a scary turn for passengers aboard a tour bus Monday afternoon after the driver of the bus drove off the freeway just north of Fairfield, injuring more than a dozen people, authorities said.
The United Coach Tours bus was traveling westbound on Interstate 80 just east of the North Texas Street overcrossing at 4:27 p.m., to California Highway Patrol Sgt. Betsy Legg said.
For unknown reasons, the bus, which the driver told authorities was in the fast lane, traveled across the roadway to the right, leaving skid marks across the right-hand lanes and shoulder before going up an embankment.
The bus went through a barbed wire fence, scattering dirt and broken glass as it hurled onto Lyon Road, which parallels the interstate, narrowly missing an oncoming car before finally coming to a stop on the frontage road.
Fairfield police, four Fairfield Fire Department units, eight CHP officers and five ambulance crews responded to the crash.
Thirteen of the bus passengers were treated for injuries that ranged in severity from minor to moderate and were transported to hospitals, authorities said. The remaining passengers were gathered along the guardrail at the opposite side of the road while CHP officers worked to collect statements and conduct an investigation.
The driver told the CHP she was having issues with the brakes on the bus before driving it off the roadway, authorities said.
The crash is under investigation.
Copyright 2011 Contra Costa Newspapers
All Rights Reserved