April 23, 2009 (by Otto Smyth)
According to reports by commuter bus injury lawyers in Los Angeles County, a commuter bus on U.S. Highway 101 caught fire north of Los Angeles.
The Commuter Express bus was approximately 12 miles north of Los Angeles in Calabasas. When the driver saw smoke coming from the rear of the bus and then saw flames according to Los Angeles County Fire Inspector Steve Zermeno. It is believed to have started in an engine compartment and is under investigation, it is believed it may have been mechanical.
Zermeno stated that it took fire crews about 20 minutes to put the fire out and as many as 27 of the approximately 37 passengers on board the bus were treated for smoke inhalation. The fire consumed approximately three quarters of the bus prior to fire crews putting it out.
One woman was transported to the hospital for observation, according to Zermeno she was in stable condition when she was transported to the hospital. There were 26 passengers that were treated at the scene.
The Commuter Express buses are a part of the Los Angeles Department of Transportation and have not commented on the U.S. Highway 101 fire.
