Velia Monarrez Killed, 11 Injured in Bus Accident on I-15 near Baker, CA
UPDATE (December 21, 2022): Sources have identified the person killed in this accident as 68-year-old passenger Velia Monarrez.
Baker, CA — December 14, 2022, one person died and eleven were injured when a bus overturned on Interstate 15 in San Bernardino County.
Authorities say the incident happened around 11:00 p.m. on I-15 near Razor Road, south of Baker. Preliminary investigation suggests a bus carrying 20 people veered off the roadway to the right for unknown reasons, entered the open desert, and went airborne after hitting a dirt berm. It hit the ground and a concrete retaining wall upon landing and came to rest upright. Several passengers were reportedly ejected from the bus during the violent landing.
One person was pronounced dead at the scene. Eleven others were transported to area hospitals; three were critically injured, two had moderate injuries, and six had minor injuries.
The crash remains under investigation. No further information is available at this time.
Commentary on Bus Accident on I-15 near Baker
It doesn't seem like investigators know exactly why the bus left the road and crashed. I'm not coming down on them for not having all the answers so soon, but for the sake of the people who got hurt in it (and those who lost a loved one) I hope they're doing everything they can to figure out what happened. Was the bus traveling too fast? Was it in good repair and well-maintained? Did it blow a tire? Did the driver get distracted or fall asleep? Was the road wet or hazardous?
I don't mean to complicate things or speculate here, only to point out that there are many potential factors that must be considered--especially given the crash's tragic aftermath. Will police efforts alone be enough to get answers for the people who need and deserve them?
