17 Hurt in Freak RTD Bus Accident : Traffic: It lost control and crossed seven lanes of the Pasadena Freeway. Rush-hour travel was tied up for miles.

At least 17 people were injured Friday afternoon when a Southern California Rapid Transit District bus careened out of control on the Pasadena Freeway, crossed seven lanes of traffic and came to rest within 15 feet of the Arroyo Seco wash, authorities said.

The injuries ranged from minor to moderate, including bruises, scrapes and fractures, according to the RTD.

The accident caused a mammoth traffic jam on the northbound Pasadena Freeway, backing up homebound commuters for half a dozen miles.

Authorities said 16 people on the bus, including the driver, and the driver of a car that collided head-on with the bus were taken by Los Angeles Fire Department ambulances to five hospitals.

Investigators reported that the bus, traveling south on the Pasadena Freeway near Avenue 26, apparently swerved to avoid an accident, plunged through the center divider onto the northbound lanes, crossed the busy freeway and came to rest with its wheels dangling over the concrete divider of an on-ramp.

John Dutton, a Los Angeles resident who said he witnessed the spectacular accident, said he saw the bus enter the freeway at Avenue 26 and seemingly go out of control.

“The bus went through a center divider, hit some cars coming in the opposite direction--five, I think--and went over the embankment on the other side,” he said. “Some people stopped to see if they could help. Some people were injured but none of them seemed hurt real bad.”

The Los Angeles Fire Department received the call at 3:40 p.m. and sent seven ambulances and two fire engines.

The injured were treated at the scene, then taken to hospitals.