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Crash Puts Bus on Sidewalk; Teen Dies

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Times Staff Writer

A van driver who said he lost consciousness caused a multiple-vehicle crash that ended when a school bus swerved onto a sidewalk near Huntington Park High School, killing a ninth-grader, authorities said Friday.

The student, Lauro Camberos, 15, of Huntington Park was pronounced dead at St. Francis Hospital in Lynwood, officials said.

Six other students, a bus driver and three other people were taken to hospitals, according to the California Highway Patrol. Three cars, one van and two school buses were involved.

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The incident began about 3:25 p.m. when a GMC Safari van driven by Jerry Lee Smith, 46, of Inglewood smashed into a Nissan Altima, CHP spokesman Bill Preciado said.

Smith told police he is diabetic and lost consciousness while driving on Gage Avenue, Preciado said.

After striking the Altima, Smith’s van careened into another car before crashing into a wall, the CHP said.

The Altima, meanwhile, crossed into oncoming traffic and collided with a packed school bus, Preciado said.

The bus struck an oncoming Chevrolet Tahoe, then went onto the sidewalk, pinning Camberos against a brick wall, Preciado said.

A second school bus was following the first, said Susan Cox, a spokeswoman for the Los Angeles Unified School District.

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The buses were taking students from Harbor Occupational Center to Huntington Park and Bell high schools, she said.

A student on the second bus was injured when the driver braked hard to avoid the collision, Preciado said.

Smith was not arrested or cited. An investigation was continuing, Preciado said.

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