83 Hurt When Gamblers’ Buses Run Out of Luck, Collide on Snowy Road

TRUCKEE —  Two Reno-bound gamblers’ buses collided near here on a snowy highway Saturday afternoon, injuring 83 passengers but none seriously, the California Highway Patrol said.

The driver of one bus had to be cut loose from his mangled bus, the CHP said.

CHP officials said the two buses from the Bay Area--one from Reno Express in Hayward and the other from Ernie’s Tours in San Jose--were on Interstate 80, about 40 miles west of Reno, when one of them lost control, spun around and got stuck in the snow, facing oncoming traffic. The second bus, as well as several autos, could not stop and crashed into the disabled coach, investigators said.

Forty-three of the injured were taken to Tahoe Forest Hospital in Truckee, where they were treated for injuries ranging from bumps and bruises to broken bones, said nursing supervisor Kelly Smeltzer. She added that three were admitted.

Another 40 were taken to Washoe Medical Center and St. Mary’s Regional Hospital, both in Reno. Those injuries were considered minor, the CHP said.