HIGHLAND - (INT) - An investigation is underway into the cause of a bus accident on Route 330 that sent 21 people to local hospitals.

California Highway Patrol investigators initially found that a mini-bus returning from a weekend church retreat rear-ended a car as both headed down the twisting mountain highway about 2-miles north of the 210 freeway. The bus overturned blocking the highway for more than four hours Sunday afternoon.

There were 23 people board the bus returning to a church in Downey including the driver, Teresa Benitez, age 49, of Paramount.

Two people in the car were not hurt, but three in the bus had major injuries.

One passenger on the bus said it hit an embankment alongside the highway before striking the car.

Investigators will look for possible brake failure or the driver's failure to maintain control of her bus. There was no indication of drug or alcohol abuse.

Story Date: May 25, 2016