Inmate, Military Buses Involved In So Cal Chain-Reaction Collision

A Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department inmate bus and three buses transporting military personnel were involved in a chain- reaction collision on the Golden State (5) Freeway today, injuring eight people and snarling traffic on the busy thoroughfare.

The early afternoon crash near Washington Boulevard prompted a closure of all northbound lanes as rescue crews tended to the injured people. All southbound lanes were briefly closed while sheriff’s officials transferred inmates to another bus.

The inmate bus was apparently rear-ended by one of three military- transport buses in a convoy that was involved in the chain-reaction crash. A Los Angeles County Fire Department official said eight people were injured. Most of the injuries were minor, but one person aboard one of the military buses was taken a trauma center.

All of the buses remained upright.

According to the sheriff’s department, there were 25 inmates and two deputies aboard the transport bus. The deputies were not injured.