January 1, Church Youth Bus Crash Sparks Major Rescue

Wyatt’s Take

• A church bus filled with teens overturned late Sunday on a California mountain road.
• Twenty people needed hospital care and three suffered serious injuries.
• First responders credited recent training for their rapid actions.

Sunday night, a charter bus taking young people home from church camp crashed on a sharp turn along State Route 330 near Fredalba, sending many to the hospital.

The bus was carrying teens and young adults from a Catholic church in Santa Ana, returning from a retreat at Camp Nawakwa.

Firefighters and medics rushed to the scene, arriving minutes after the call to find the bus overturned on its side.

“We were rocking from side to side and the bus fell over.”

Cyntia Ramirez, 21, told reporters after escaping with her younger sister, who suffered a broken arm.

Passengers climbed to safety through the roof hatch, while crews treated over two dozen people on site.

Three riders had major injuries, and most were taken to nearby hospitals for care.

Authorities quickly closed down the highway for rescue and cleanup.

This story is a reminder that even routine church trips can turn dangerous fast, and it’s everyday heroes—firefighters, EMTs, and neighbors—who step up when disaster strikes.

Wyatt Matters

Family, faith, and grit are the backbone of heartland America. When trouble hits, folks look out for each other and no one gets left behind.

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