The California Highway Patrol Thursday sought information about a crash that injured more than a dozen people, one critically, when a rock went through the windshield of a transit bus and knocked out the driver.
The Kern County Transit bus veered off Sierra Highway near West Avenue C around 11:15 a.m. Wednesday and ended up on its side near railroad tracks in the Lancaster desert, according to the California Highway Patrol.
The bus, with 25-30 people aboard, was northbound on Sierra Highway, south of Avenue C, heading toward Rosamond, when something struck its windshield, according to the CHP.
“Internal video confirmed an object pierced the windshield and struck the driver, which appeared to render the driver unconscious,” according to a CHP statement. “The bus veered off the east road edge onto a descending dirt embankment and collided with the Union Pacific railroad tracks before overturning on its left side.”
The driver was the most seriously injured of the patients, but his injuries were considered non-life-threatening, according to CHP Officer Jordon Church.
CHP officers and personnel from the Los Angeles County Fire Department, Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department and American Medical Response helped get the passengers off the bus, Church said.
“Injuries ranged from minor to major, and approximately 15 passengers were transported to one of four local hospitals: Antelope Valley Medical Center, Palmdale Regional Medical Center, Northridge Hospital Medical Center or Henry Mayo Newhall Hospital,” he said. “Other passengers either self-transported or declined medical treatment.”
Union Pacific was notified and repaired a 150-foot stretch of track that had been damaged by the bus.
The crash, response and investigation closed Sierra Highway in both directions between Avenue C and Avenue D for about two hours.
“Antelope Valley Area (CHP) officers continue to work with Kern County Transit to view additional onboard, outward facing cameras to determine the origin of the object,” Church said.
Anyone with information about the crash was urged to contact Investigating Officer M. Diaz or Church at 661-743-6060. After business hours, calls can be placed to the CHP’s Los Angeles Traffic Management Center at 323-259-3200.