41 hurt in bus crash between Tonopah and Bishop

TONOPAH - Two people suffered amputations Thursday after a tour bus flipped on Highway 6 between Tonopah and Bishop, injuring all 41 people on board.

Six helicopters, including two from the Nevada Army National Guard, responded to the accident which occurred about 2:45 p.m.

Trooper Richard James of the Nevada Highway Patrol's Las Vegas office said eight people received critical injuries in the accident.

James said the bus driver drove off the road, overcorrected to get back on and flipped the bus onto its right side.

The bus slid 200 feet broadside down the highway.

"During that slide, two people lost some body parts," James said. "They were flown to University Medical Center here in Las Vegas."

The majority of the injured received bone fractures and road rash.

The California Sun Line bus carrying tourists from England and Wales was headed for Mammoth. The tour group left from Las Vegas Thursday morning and stopped in Tonopah.

A school bus was brought to the scene to take those with minor injuries to Tonopah for medical treatment. The accident is still under investigation, James said.

The two National Guard crews flew out of Stead about 4 p.m. Thursday. The helicopters can carry up to 30 patients on litters.