City bus crashes into Albuquerque home; up to 8 injured

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Friday, January 9, 2015
VIDEO: Bus crashes into home
A bus that was struck by a van at an intersection smashed into an Albuquerque home Thursday, sending up to eight people to a hospital.

ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. -- A city bus that was struck by a van at an intersection smashed into an Albuquerque home Thursday, sending up to eight people to a hospital.

Authorities said the bus rammed into the house around 10:15 a.m. On-board video released by city transportation officials shows the bus traveling through a green light when a van approaching from the cross street smashes into its side.

The collision shattered windows in the bus and sent it hurtling straight into the home. The video shows the bus driver stuck behind the wreckage and at least one passenger on the floor of the bus.

Four passengers were seen being taken away from the crash on stretchers, but authorities said none of the injuries appeared to be serious.

Antonia Lucero said she was lying on her couch watching television when her entire house started shaking.

"I actually thought it was an earthquake," Lucero told the Albuquerque Journal.

The bus crashed through the front of Lucero's house, knocked her off the couch a few feet and sent her crawling into her kitchen screaming.

Lucero realized what happened when passengers exited the bus in her living room and started talking about the crash.

The rear end of the bus was sticking out of the front of her house, which is at the corner of the intersection.

Lucero's mother, Anita Velasco, said authorities told her eight people had been transported for medical care.

ABQ Ride spokesman Rick De Reyes said some bus passengers were taken to a hospital but he didn't have an exact count or any details on their names or conditions.