The Wednesday morning commute in Santa Clarita turned into a rescue scene when a City of Santa Clarita transit bus slammed into a gravel truck near Centre Pointe Parkway, injuring at least 13 people. One person was left in critical condition, had to be extricated from the wreckage, and was rushed to a hospital. Emergency crews shut down part of the Centre Pointe business park and urged drivers to steer clear of the area while they worked a scene officials described as fluid, with multiple patients needing treatment.
Firefighters with the Los Angeles County Fire Department said they responded to a collision involving a city transit bus and a gravel truck, with at least 13 people hurt, including the patient who required extrication and transport to a hospital, according to NBC Los Angeles. City officials said the crash was reported at about 9:30 a.m. near Golden Valley Road and Centre Pointe Parkway, and they urged motorists to seek alternate routes until the wreckage could be cleared.
Aerial footage from the scene showed several vehicles badly mangled and at least one white car wedged beneath a big rig. The cause of the pileup was not immediately clear in early reports, based on video reviewed by CBS Los Angeles. The outlet’s coverage showed multiple people receiving medical attention at the roadside before being moved into ambulances. Authorities have not yet released any information on possible contributing factors such as mechanical issues, road conditions or impairment.
Road closures and detours
Centre Pointe Parkway was closed between Reuther Avenue and Golden Valley Road while crews worked the crash scene, the city reported. The shutdown clogged traffic through the Centre Pointe business park and spilled over onto nearby residential streets during the height of the morning rush. Drivers were asked to avoid the area and use alternate routes until officials could safely reopen the road, according to NBC Los Angeles.
Local transit safety context
The crash follows a March incident in which a bicyclist was killed after being struck by a Santa Clarita Transit bus in Castaic. Local coverage identified the victim as Hahn Truong and noted that the California Highway Patrol is investigating, according to The Signal. In the wake of that fatal collision and other recent incidents, riders and residents have continued to press for close scrutiny of bus operations and safety practices. City officials have not suggested any immediate connection between the earlier deadly crash and Wednesday’s multi-vehicle collision.
Investigation ongoing
Authorities said the collision remains under investigation and have not yet released findings on who was at fault or whether any citations will be issued. Investigators are expected to review vehicle damage, any available video and witness statements to piece together what happened, CBS Los Angeles reported. Hoodline will update this post as officials release further information.
