Crash Injures Woman, 2 Children on Bus

Two handicapped children in a school bus and a Tustin woman were injured Wednesday in a three-vehicle crash on the Costa Mesa Freeway in Santa Ana, authorities said.

California Highway Patrol spokeswoman Angel Johnson said the injured children were taken to United Western Medical Center-Santa Ana for observation, but they were not believed to be seriously hurt.

The six handicapped children aboard the bus at the time of the accident were being taken home from the Wallace Special Center in Santa Ana, Johnson said.

Lisa Devries, 21, who suffered moderate injuries, was listed in good condition at United Western, according to a hospital spokeswoman.

Johnson said the crash occurred about 4 p.m. when a pickup was unable to stop as southbound traffic on the Costa Mesa Freeway suddenly froze. The school bus, driving in the slow lane, was forced to come to a complete stop, Johnson said.

Behind the bus, Devries, driving a Chevrolet Blazer, also stopped. The pickup, driven by Keith Weich, 26, whose address was not available, rear-ended Devries’ car, forcing it into the bus.

Johnson said the crash remained under investigation and no citations were issued.

The accident happened just as rush-hour traffic was beginning, and Johnson said it took more than an hour--until about 5:15 p.m.--for the vehicles to be cleared away.