Update: CHP Investigating Brake Failure as Possible Cause of Bus Crash

By Bay City News Service

The California Highway Patrol is investigating brake failure as the possible cause of a bus crash on Interstate Highway 80 near Fairfield late Monday afternoon.

The United Coach Tours bus with 49 people aboard drove off westbound I-80 into a fence around 4:30 p.m. and came to rest on the side of Lyon Road, which runs parallel to the highway, CHP Officer Richard Weaver said.

The bus was returning to San Francisco from Sacramento with passengers who were on a lobbying outing, Weaver said.

Twenty passengers suffered minor injuries, including pain and bruising, and 13 went to hospitals where they were treated and released, Weaver said.          

The bus driver, 38-year-old Yunzho Ma, told investigators she was having trouble with the air brakes on the right side of the bus, Weaver said.          

Ma said she was driving at about 70 mph and tried to slow down when the brakes failed, Weaver said. She then steered to the right and went through the fence, he said.          

There were skid marks on the road, possibly indicating that the brakes had locked up, Weaver said.        

Ma has worked for the South San Francisco charter bus company since 2004, Weaver said. The owner of the bus company did not immediately return a phone call for comment this morning.

CHP officers from the agency's Solano County office are investigating whether brake failure caused the crash, Weaver said.