A school bus operated by a Jewish day camp rear-ended a Nissan van causing a multi-car crash that blocked lanes on westbound Interstate Highway 80 in Berkeley on Monday morning and injured 15 campers and two counselors, according to the California Highway Patrol and camp directors.
There were about 50 children, ages 5 to 15, on board the bus when it collided with seven to nine cars and vehicles near the Ashby Avenue exit of Highway 80 at about 10 a.m., according to CHP Officer Sean Wilkenfeld.
A total of 15 8-year-old campers and two counselors suffered minor to moderate injuries, according to camp directors. A doctor who asked not to be identified at UC Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland said seven children were treated for "very minor" injuries there. Other children and four adults on the bus were sent to Alta Bates medical center, the CHP said.
In addition, the drivers of two other involved vehicles were taken the the hospital for minor injuries, Wilkenfeld said.
At least a dozen children approx 8 y/o have minor injuries as a result of this collision. Were heading to #Oakland from #Berkeley.
— CHP Oakland (@CHPoakland) August 10, 2015WB 80 at Ashby Ave, collision involving a school bus has lanes blocked. Ambulance and #CHP enroute. #Berkeley
— CHP Oakland (@CHPoakland) August 10, 2015In an email to parents, the camp directors said that as a precaution "a number" of children were taken to hospitals for First Aid care. "There are no major injuries," the directors stressed. And by 1 p.m., all injured children had been reunited with their parents.
The children had been heading to Middle Harbor Park in Oakland.
All lanes reopened about 11: 40 a.m.
