Off-Duty Bus Driver Killed in Fiery Crash

An off-duty bus driver who stopped her car Monday on the southbound Santa Ana Freeway in Tustin to avoid hitting a stalled pickup truck was killed when a second truck rammed her from behind, causing her vehicle to explode, authorities said.

Beverly L. Vartanian, 49, of Anaheim was on her way to work in Irvine at 4:49 a.m. when her Chevrolet Malibu was hit by a GMC flatbed pickup carrying electrical equipment. The impact drove her car into a stalled Toyota pickup.

Wedged between the trucks, the car exploded, California Highway Patrol officers said. Vartanian was identified with dental records, said Cullen Ellingburgh, supervising deputy at the county coroner’s office.

The driver of the moving truck, Gilbert Anthony Hanks, 38, of Walnut Park, suffered minor injuries when he crashed into the victim’s car at about 65 mph, CHP Officer JoAnn O’Haire said.

Javier Fernandez, 25, of Anaheim, driver of the stalled pickup, was at a call box near Red Hill Avenue and was not injured. He reported the accident as it happened, O’Hairesaid.

Officers responded in four minutes, and firefighters quickly extinguished the blaze, but it was too late to save Vartanian, an Orange County Fire Authority spokesman said.

Vartanian is survived by daughters Sonya, 18, scheduled to begin classes at Chapman University this fall; Elissa, 17, a student at Loara High School in Anaheim; and her parents, Wilbert and Jeanette Gehman.

“She’s like the best person in the world,” said Hugo Castro, 20, a family friend.

“We can’t find any complaints about her. She was a loving mother of two.”

Vartanian began driving for OCTA 2 1/2 months ago. Before that, she drove a school bus for the Anaheim Union High School District.

“Quite honestly, we’re just shocked,” said John Jessie, director of transportation for the school district. “I know she cared a lot about her daughters.”