WILLIAMS — At least eight people were killed in a tour bus accident Sunday night just east of Highway 5 and south of Williams on Lonestar Road, according to the Williams Area California Highway Patrol.
The bus was on its way to the Colusa Casino Resort from Sacramento when the bus driver swerved for unknown reasons, hit a muddy ditch and rolled the bus.
Driver Quintin Joey Watts, 52, of Stockton, was arrested on suspicion of felony driving under the influence causing injury or death, according to Williams Area CHP officer Scott Johnson.
“An off-duty Colusa County deputy was traveling in the area and observed the vehicle driving in an erratic manner, back and forth, onto the unpaved right shoulder. Then he crossed both the northbound and the southbound lanes and continued onto the west shoulder. He came to rest facing southbound, so he had gone into the ditch and flipped,” Johnson said.
The CHP is investigating the cause of the accident. What substance or substances Watts is suspected of using is also still under investigation, according to Johnson.
Seven people were pronounced dead at the scene, according to a press release from the Williams Area CHP.
They include Daniel Cobb, 68, Khou Yang, 67, Meuay Saelee, 74, Lou Her, 68, Fin Seiw Saechae, 64, Ma Vang, 60 and Muang Fo Saephanh, 68.
There were 43 passengers onboard including Watts, according to Williams Fire Protection Authority Jeff Gilbert, who was the incident commander.
All were transported by ground ambulances and by air to 10 area hospitals, 12 in critical condition.
Gilbert reported that one of the 12 people in critical condition died, bringing the known death count to eight as of noon Monday.
Johnson said anyone looking for a family member should contact him or CHP officer Robert Kays at (530) 473-2821.
Gilbert said multiple agencies from Colusa, Sutter, Yolo and Lake counties responded. Lake County Office of Emergency Services Assistant Coordinator Willie Sapeta said nine ambulances from Lake County arrived at the scene at approximately 8:10 p.m., and stayed for 20 minutes before they were sent back home.
“They put all my resources into staging until they were able to evaluate what additional transportation was going to be needed. Most (of the victims) were transported by air and ground ambulances there. We staged 15 to 20 minutes, they reassessed their needs and released us so we could get back to our respective districts,” Sapeta said.
Contact Tiffany Revelle at trevelle@record-bee.com.
