Federal agency to investigate Greyhound bus crash in San Jose that killed two
The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate a Greyhound bus crash on Highway 101 in San Jose that left two passengers dead, authorities said.
The crash, after 6:30 a.m. Tuesday just south of the northbound 101 connection with State Route 85, occurred when a 2014 MCI Motor Coach Greyhound slammed into yellow barrels dividing two northbound lanes, then overturned on its right side, according to the California Highway Patrol.
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The two people killed in the crash were identified by the Santa Clara County coroner as Fely Olivera, 51, of San Francisco, and Maria de Jesus Ortiz Velasquez, 76, of Salinas. Nine others were hurt, including the driver, who suffered minor injuries, said CHP Officer Chris Miceli. Twenty-one people were on the bus, including the driver, at the time of the crash, he said.
Authorities have not determined a cause for the wreck but said that drugs and alcohol were not a factor. The driver told investigators he was “fatigued” before the wreck but had gotten a cup of coffee about 20 miles south of the crash in Gilroy, where he dropped off two passengers, Miceli said.
He told authorities that what he remembered of the crash was hitting the barrels and the bus overturning, Miceli said.
The NTSB will be reviewing a recording taken from a video camera inside the bus, Jennifer Morrison, the investigator in charge, said at a news conference Wednesday.
Investigators will be looking into what happened and why over the next few days. A team of eight investigators will examine the bus’ mechanical systems and the driver’s actions. They will also speak to victims and look at factors such as seat-belt use.
No cause for the crash will be determined during this stage of the investigation, Morrison said.
For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna.
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