By Kamryn Martell and Katherine Quezada
A Santa Clarita city bus, a gravel truck and two white sedans were involved in a collision at Centre Pointe Parkway and Golden Valley Road, injuring more than a dozen people, one of them critically, on Wednesday morning, according to an official with the Santa Clarita Valley Sheriff’s Station.
The crash was first reported at 9:28 a.m., according to Capt. Brandon Barclay with the SCV Sheriff’s Station, who provided an update at the scene of the crash.
According to preliminary information, the gravel truck was traveling about 50-70 mph and was unable to make a stop and tried to turn on Centre Pointe Parkway, Barclay said. The truck then collided with a city of Santa Clarita Transit bus and two other vehicles, he said.
About six patients were transported to Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital, according to HMNH spokesman Patrick Moody.
One person was in critical condition, one was in fair condition, which means the patient was stable, and four were in good condition, Moody added.
A bus passenger was identified as the person in critical condition, according to Barclay.
First responder radio dispatch traffic indicated that one person was initially trapped, then extricated.
Initial reports stated that approximately 13 people were injured, according to first responder radio dispatch traffic.
“I think going down the grade, and then he had a full load of gravel in the back of his truck and it was hard to negotiate the stop,” Barclay said, adding that the traffic signal turned yellow and the driver believed the stop was not possible.
The incident remains under active investigation, he added, stating that the preliminary information was based on witness reports.
“They’re in our thoughts and prayers,” Barclay said to those involved in the crash. “I’m glad it wasn’t worse and as of right now, I’m glad nobody was dead on impact.”
The exact number of passengers on the bus was not immediately known, according to Barclay, but all patients were transported by 10:17 a.m., according to radio dispatch.
Per radio dispatch traffic, 10 ambulances were called to the scene as L.A. County Fire Department personnel were conducting triage.
The truck was transporting gravel at the time of the crash, and the material was scattered over the roadway.
The area remained closed off while the investigation was conducted, according to Sgt. R. Arambulo with the SCV Sheriff’s Station, who declined to provide his first name. As of late Wednesday morning, he said it was not yet known how long the closure was expected to remain in effect.
Deputies administered a field sobriety test to the truck driver, as a standard part of their investigation, but reports from the scene indicated that DUI was not believed to be a factor in the crash, according to Barclay.
A fourth car, also a white sedan, was involved in the crash and ended on the opposite side of the street away from the other three vehicles involved. It had damage to the front.
Officials from the Fire Department were not immediately available to provide additional details as of the publication of this story.
This is a breaking news story and additional information will be added as it becomes available.
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