By Kamika Dunlap
Inside Bay Area (California)
Copyright 2006 MediaNews Group, Inc. and ANG Newspapers
All Rights Reserved
OAKLAND - Ten people were injured Friday morning, three critically, when a passengerless AC Transit bus and a pickup truck collided at Seminary Avenue and International Boulevard in East Oakland.
The force of the collision sent the bus careening into three cars going west on International before slamming into a building.
The 17-year-old driver of the white GMC Sierra double cab pickup truck was traveling east on International, and the bus driver was headed south on Seminary, Oakland police Sgt. Henderson Jordan said.
“The bus swerved to avoid hitting the truck, but collided with the truck,” he said.
The bus driver and the pickup driver were treated for minor injuries. Oakland Fire Capt. Melinda Drayton said the mother of the driver was in the passenger seat and two other passengers were in the back of the cab.
Drayton said the mother, in her mid-40s and a native of Tonga, was the most seriously injured. She is in critical condition at a local hospital.
One passenger in the rear of the truck also was taken to the hospital, she said.
Jim Gleich, AC Transit deputy general manager, said the bus was not carrying any passengers and had just left the nearby bus yard.
At least five vehicles were involved in the crash, police said.
Drayton said traffic was light at the intersection because it’s the holidays and children are not in school.
The fire department and police are investigating the cause of the accident. AC Transit officials also are conducting an investigation.
Many residents in the area heard loud “skid” and “boom” sounds after the bus plowed into the International Smoke Shop at 5910 International Blvd. The shop’s owner had just arrived to open when the accident occurred.
Other residents who said they witnessed the crash told police one vehicle ran a red light across International Boulevard. Police were investigating Friday afternoon and could not confirm the witnesses’ accounts.
Andre Moore was walking to the smoke shop and jumped back when the bus came crashing into the building, he said.
“It was really scary,” Moore said. "... And the bus driver was the only one on the bus, and she was hysterical.”
Moore said he was shaken up by the accident but tried to comfort the bus driver and let her use his cell phone to call her family members to tell them what happened.
Smoke Shop owner Rashad Alme said he arrived at work to unlock the doors when he saw the accident.
“I didn’t know what to do,” he said. “I know this is going to cost a lot of money to fix.”
Broken glass, plastic and other debris were scattered in the intersection’s crosswalk.
A crowd of people gathered near the accident scene and stared at the front end of the bus lodged in the smoke shop.
Paramedics assisted some drivers of the other vehicles, who sat on the sidewalk in shock with scrapes and cuts.
Officials said the smoke shop facade was most affected, but residents can remain in the single apartment above the building. Residents also will be allowed to stay in the large apartment building on the corner next to the smoke shop.