Berkeley AC Transit Bus Crash: 1 Dead

BERKELEY, CA — One person was killed Thursday morning when an AC transit bus and a small red car collided at Ashby Avenue and California Street, then caromed into a house. It was first reported that two houses were struck, but that has been clarified by police.

The driver of the red car was killed, according to police. The driver was pronounced dead at the scene.

Just the driver and one passenger were aboard the bus. Neither were hurt. And no one in the home was hurt.

The driver will be tested for drugs and alcohol, standard procedure, according to AC Transit. The driver will also be provided with counseling.

Ashby Avenue was closed between Ling and Sacramento streets for more than eight hours as crash investigators conducted their probe.

Investigators determined that the red Honda was traveling south on California Street when it hit the AC Transit bus, which was heading west on Ashby Avenue, Berkeley police Sgt. Andrew Frankel said.

Frankel said there's no stop sign on westbound Ashby Avenue, the direction the bus was traveling, but there is a stop sign on southbound California Street, the direction the Honda was traveling.

Investigators haven't yet determined if the Honda driver stopped at the intersection, according to Frankel.

— Bay City News contributed to this report; Image via Shutterstock