In a dramatic incident Sunday night, a bus carrying 36 passengers through California’s San Bernardino Mountains erupted into flames following a crash. Firefighters swiftly designated the situation as a mass casualty event.

Although specifics remain scarce, initial accounts suggest that just before 9 p.m., the California Highway Patrol, alongside the San Bernardino County Fire Department and nearby agencies, rushed to State Route 330 in Running Springs’ Fredalba neighborhood. Reports indicated a bus had overturned, leading to the emergency response.

A witness, trailing the bus and familiar with several passengers, informed OnScene.TV that the individuals onboard were returning to a Santa Ana church after attending a religious event when the mishap transpired.

Footage captured at the crash site depicts a significant assembly of emergency personnel establishing a triage zone to promptly evaluate the passengers’ conditions.

According to county fire officials, the bus was transporting both adults and teenagers. Out of those, 20 individuals required hospital treatment, with three sustaining critical injuries.

“The remainder of the passengers suffered minor injuries and were not transported or reported no injury at all,” officials said in a post to X.  

Officials with Caltrans said that Highway 330 was closed in both directions, from Live Oak near Running Springs to Highland Avenue in Highland, as a result of the crash.  

The highway was reopened as of Monday morning.