The State - News from June 15, 1986

A Santa Monica woman injured when a “gamblers’ special” tour bus crashed into the Walker River near Bridgeport, Calif., on May 30 has died from her injuries, bringing to 21 the number of fatalities from the crash. Ruth Hulderman, 70, died at St. Mary’s Hospital in Reno. An autopsy was scheduled. Eighteen people died outright and 21 were injured when the charter bus, carrying a group of senior citizens back to Santa Monica from a gambling excursion, went out of control on a twisting stretch of U.S. 395 and plunged into the frigid river. A 19th victim died later of injuries and the body of a 20th victim was found 10 miles downstream from the crash site last Tuesday. Authorities, meanwhile, were looking for the driver of the bus, Ernst A. Klimeck, 47, who vanished after being released from a hospital June 1.