At least five people died and several others suffered injuries early Tuesday when a bus collided with a pole on Highway 99 in Merced County, California.

The crash was reported just after 3 a.m. between Merced and Atwater, according to multiple reports.

The bus was traveling north from Mexico and bound for Pasco, Washington, with about 30 passengers on board when it veered off the road and into the pole, according to KFSN.

Video from the scene showed firefighters climbing up to the high broken windows of the bus to get to the people inside. Glass appeared to be everywhere. Several ambulances and at least one helicopter were in the area.

The bus appeared to have been split in half by the pole.

About the Author

Featured

Atlanta art and antiques appraiser and auctioneer Allan Baitcher (right) takes bids during a 2020 auction. Baitcher and his company, Peachtree Antiques, are being sued by a Florida multimillionaire who says he paid them $20 million for fakes. (AJC 2020)

Credit: Phil Skinner / Staff