A tour bus headed from Los Angeles to the Casino Pauma crashed in Northern San Diego County on Sunday.
The accident happened about 10:49 p.m. as the bus was southbound on Pala Temecula Rd. near Aruba Rd. The bus driver, a 58-year-old El Monte resident, told the California Highway Patrol that his brakes failed just as he was entering a curve in the road. The bus crashed into a metal guard rail, then struck tress and a boulder on the right side of the roadway.
According to the CHP, the bus had 19 occupants. Its driver and 9 passengers were transported to Palomar Hospital.
The cause of the bus crash remains under investigation. Preliminary information from the CHP indicates that drugs and alcohol do not appear to be involved.
The bus company, Polar Express, had made the following pickups before the accident:
6 p.m. King Taco ‐ 2400 E. Cesar Chavez, Los Angeles
6:30 p.m. Koreatown Galleria ‐ 3250 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles
6:45 p.m. Palace Beauty ‐ 2748 W. Olympic Blvd., Los Angeles
8:00 p.m. Chinatown Express ‐ 1001 S. Alvarado St., Los Angeles