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.

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The Thanksgiving air travel period is on as passengers made their way through the airport Friday, Nov. 22, 2024. Traveling through Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport during the holidays can be an ordeal. Parking shortages could disrupt your plans and security waits can be long during busy periods, causing bottlenecks. Hartsfield-Jackson is advising travelers to get to the airport at least 2½ hours before their domestic flight and at least 3 hours before their international flight. (John Spink/AJC)

Credit: John Spink