At least five people killed and several left with life threatening injuries after a tour bus crashed into a sign on the highway in central California on its way up from Mexico, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) said.

According to the CHP spokesman Stephen Weeke, at least fifteen people suffered critical injuries and  dozen had less serious injuries. Some of the critically injured were trapped in the bus for hours. Only four on the bus was not hurt, he added.

The CHP Officer Moises Onsurez. Atwater said that, there were 30 people were boarded on the bus. The Van Hool bus slammed into the highway "Hammatt Avenue" sign on Highway 99 in Atwater, Merced County, at nearly 3:25 a.m. Atwater is a city of 28,000 people, about 65 miles northwest of Fresno.

"The bus was heading north on Highway 99 when it made an unsafe turning motion and collided with the poll," Onsurez said. The highway was closed for nearly 12 hours after the deadly crash. Onsurez identified the driver as Mario David Vasquez, 57, Los Angeles, who suffered "major injuries."

Around 10 "walking wounded" passengers were outside the bus when officers arrived, Sgt. Luis Lara said later. "It was a mess," Lara said. Some passengers were trapped inside, and firefighters cut them out. "We have every type of injury in that bus."

Also Read: Two police officers shot in San Diego, suspect arrested!

Nandini