Crash On the Orange Line

Uh oh. Earlier today, an Orange Line bus was involved in a major collision that injured 15 people. Considering that today is only the fifth day of regular service on the new transit system, this incident is a bad omen that may discourage ridership. Let's just hope such events do not become commonplace. The following is a report from the Los Angeles Daily News Web Site:

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15 people injured in first major Orange Line Busway crash

By Daily News Staff and Wires

VALLEY GLEN -- Fifteen people were hurt today when a passenger car collided with an Orange Line bus, the first major accident on the San Fernando Valley's new transit system, officials said.

The crash occurred when a Toyota Camry driven southbound on Woodman Avenue by a 78-year-old woman slammed into an Orange Line bus crossing Woodman on the busway, officials said.

"The bus cleared the intersection on a green light, and the car ran a red light and collided with the bus," said Richard Hunt, the MTA's general manager for the San Fernando Valley. "It hit the bus twice."

The driver of the Camry suffered injuries to the chest area and was transported to a local hospital, where she is in stable condition, Fire Department officials said. At least thirteen passengers on the bus were also taken to local hospitals with minor injuries. It was not clear if the other injured person was on the bus or in the Camry.

The Orange Line continued service, but diverted its course off the busway between Woodman and Oxnard. The busway reopened at 3:45 p.m.

Another busway accident occurred earlier in the day near Corbin Avenue when a woman driving a passenger car made a right turn on a red light and struck an Orange Line bus. A fare checker on the bus suffered minor injuries.