Driver charged after bus overturns on I-25 near Walsenburg

WALSENBURG, Colo. (KRDO) - Five people were reported to be critically injured following a rollover bus crash on I-25 Thursday morning, and now the driver of the bus is facing a criminal charge.

The passenger bus was carrying 49 people and overturned on I-25 just south of Walsenburg Thursday morning.

The five people who are critically injured have been taken to hospitals in Walsenburg and Pueblo, emergency crews told our reporter at the scene. The other passengers were taken to the Huerfano County Community Center.

Colorado State Patrol gave an update Thursday afternoon saying that the Vanhool charter bus was going north when it lost control on the icy road and started rotating. Once it left the road, it rolled over and came to a rest on its roof.

But CSP says the driver, 53-year-old Alberto Torres, wasn't being as careful as he should have been.

“Our initial investigation shows the charter bus was traveling at a minimum of 55 miles per hour, which with these road conditions this morning was way too fast,” said Capt. Brian Lyons with Colorado State Patrol.

Torres was charged with careless driving causing bodily injury, according to CSP.

Some of the passengers received life-threatening injuries, CSP said.