1 Killed, Dozens Hurt as Car Hits Bus Near Reno

An off-duty Nevada Highway Patrol officer died and at least two dozen people were injured, some seriously, Monday evening when a charter bus loaded with senior citizens from Norwalk collided with a car on a rain-slicked freeway near Reno.

The off-duty officer’s car glanced off the front of the bus at about 5:30 p.m., causing the loaded bus to roll onto its side. The bus slid along the concrete shoulder of U.S. 395 before falling 17 feet into a ditch, authorities said.

The Highway Patrol did not identify the officer pending notification of her family. Of the two dozen or so injured people, 10 suffered moderate to serious injuries and were taken to Washoe County Medical Center in Reno, said Highway Patrol Sgt. Marvin Davenport.

“When I got there, there were a lot of walking wounded,” said Truckee Meadows Fire District Assistant Chief Jim Linardios. “There were some broken bones, but nobody who appeared to be in life-threatening condition.”

The bus was chartered by Norwalk Seniors, a group sponsored by the City of Norwalk’s recreation department. Forty-four members were en route to Bally’s Resort-Hotel in Reno.

Northbound traffic on the freeway was blocked for about an hour while more than 100 rescue workers helped free passengers from the toppled bus.

“It was raining the whole time and very wet,” Linardios said. “The working conditions were very hard.” Passersby contributed blankets and jackets for the injured, he said.

The cause of the accident was under investigation, Davenport said.

Ray Armenta, who operates Majestic Tours and Armenta’s Charters in Redondo Beach, claimed that the officer “lost control and hit my bus.”