Bus Crash Was in the Cards

Edith Oseransky was dealt a full house that she didn’t want Monday during a weekly poker game with friends at her Northridge home.

An 11 1/2-ton RTD bus plowed into her house on Vanalden Avenue and crashed to a stop a few steps from her card table, sending Oseransky and six of her friends fleeing out the front door.

No one was seriously hurt in the late-morning accident, blamed by police on a motorist who allegedly ran a red light and hit the side of the bus, sending it out of control.

“It sounded like an explosion. We all ran out,” said shaken player Christina Drummen, 52, of Tarzana. “I took my cards because I was winning at the time.”

After the impact, the bus jumped a curb and crashed through two stone walls before severing a thick Italian cypress tree and shearing off a corner of the house.

Bus driver Carl Strozier, 50, labored a few minutes to force open a rear door jammed shut by other trees, then freed himself and two uninjured passengers.

The car, driven by Peggy Burke, 78, of Sepulveda, skidded across Lassen Street at the intersection of Vanalden after hitting the bus, police said.

Rescuers took Burke and her husband, Lewis, 86, to a hospital. Her husband was released, but Burke was admitted for observation, authorities said.

The crash demolished the bedroom of Tom Oseransky, 23.

“It’s a good thing I didn’t sleep in today,” he said after inspecting roofing beams and hunks of wall that collapsed onto his bed.

Player Tara Eisner, 46, of Encino, said participants in the floating card game may want the ante upped before they gamble on returning to Oseransky’s house.

“Two months ago when we were here playing a lady hit a bicycle rider out front,” Eisner said. “We went out and helped the rider.”

Said player Evelyn Johnson, 75, of Sherman Oaks, “We have exciting games at Edith’s house.”