SAN DIEGO–A Sheriff’s department transportation bus carrying inmates was involved in a three-vehicle collision on a San Diego freeway, according to authorities.
Sheriff’s department traffic investigators say the Wednesday night accident occurred while a Sheriff’s Prisoner Transportation Bus was driving south on State Route 163 in the number two lane, just north of State Route 52.
A Honda utility vehicle was in the number one lane next to the bus. Due to traffic conditions on the freeway, the Sheriff’s bus and Honda utility vehicle slowed as they approached upcoming traffic. A BMW sedan in the number one lane behind the Honda failed to notice the slowed traffic, colliding at a high rate of speed with the Honda utility vehicle. The force of the collision between the BMW sedan and Honda utility vehicle pushed the Honda in front of the Sheriff’s bus as it was still moving, causing a secondary collision between the Honda and the Sheriff’s bus. All vehicles were moved to the side of the freeway for safety purposes.
Authorities identified the BMW driver as a 34-year-old male, and the Honda utility vehicle was occupied by a 47-year old male. The Sheriff’s Prisoner Transportation Bus was occupied by the 31 inmates and two Sheriff’s deputies.
There were no serious injuries in any of the involved vehicles. One deputy received a minor injury to a hand during the collision. The BMW and Honda vehicle received major damage rendering them inoperable. The Sheriff’s bus received apparent damage but remains operable. Out of an abundance of caution, the inmates were later transferred to a second Sheriff’s bus for transportation to their final destination. There were no reported injuries to any of the inmates on board the bus.
CHP is conducting the traffic investigation.
