Bus-crash toll rises to 8 in California

LOMA LINDA, Calif. — The driver of a pickup struck by a careening tour bus died Wednesday at a California hospital, raising the death toll from the mountain road crash to eight.

Fred Bailey Richardson, 72, died at Loma Linda University Medical Center, authorities said.

Richardson, who ran a landscaping business, was towing a trailer full of equipment when his truck was struck head-on Sunday evening on California 38 near Yucaipa by the bus, which was returning a group to Tijuana, Mexico.

Seven people on the bus died after it struck a sedan, overturned, slammed into the pickup and further crashed while heading down the road in the San Bernardino Mountains east of Los Angeles. The crash littered the area with wreckage and body parts.

Dozens were injured and several remained in critical condition.

The roadworthiness of the 1996 bus loomed as a key focus after the driver told investigators the brakes failed as he descended the two-lane highway. Federal records pointed to a history of brake-maintenance problems with the Europeanmade bus.

Road conditions and possible driver error or fatigue also were being investigated.

The bus, operated by National City, Calif.-based Scapadas Magicas LLC, was carrying 38 people, including the driver and a tour guide, when it left Tijuana at 5 a.m. Sunday for the day-long trip. The accident occurred about 6:30 p.m.