13 hurt in freeway crash in Hacienda Heights

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By Ruby Gonzales, San Gabriel Valley Tribune and Sandra Molina, Whittier Daily News

Thirteen people suffered minor injuries when a tour bus and two big rigs collided Wednesday morning on the eastbound 60 Freeway at 7th Avenue, fire officials said.

Los Angeles County Fire Capt. Thomas Richards said there were 30 passengers on the bus along with the driver and tour guide. There were two people in one of the rig, he added.

“This incident consisted of two big rigs and a charter bus, with one of the big rigs striking another big rig,” said Public Information Officer Al Perez of the Santa Fe Springs California Highway Patrol office. “The second big rig was pushed toward the median and struck the charter bus, which was traveling in the HOV (carpool) lane or the number one lane.”

How the collision happened will be determined once the bus driver has been interviewed by authorities, he said.

The bus picked up passengers in Monterey Park and were headed to Pala Casino Spa And Resort south of Temecula, according to Perez.

The bus company, ETA Enterprise, Perez said, was in good standing with all its permits in order.

Fire Inspector Randall Wright described the collision between the big rig and the tour bus as a “glancing type of blow.”

None of the vehicles rolled over or flipped, he added. Response by the L.A. County Fire included engines, trucks, paramedics and a hazardous materials unit. There was no fire or gasoline spill, Wright said.