Four students injured after Mariposa bus overturns

COULTERVILLE -- Four students were injured after a Mariposa Unified School District bus overturned Tuesday afternoon, the California Highway Patrol reported Wednesday. It was snowing heavily, with about a half-inch to 1 inch of snow in the road. Bus driver Michael Brocchini, 63, was driving too fast for the conditions, according to a CHP news release.

The bus, which was new, was traveling northbound on Highway 49 south of Crown Lead Road in the Coulterville area, the CHP reported.

The automatic chains were engaged for the rear wheels, but the bus was traveling so fast that the rear end was losing traction as the road curved, the CHP release says.

As the bus entered a curve at 20 to 30 mph, it began to slide to the left and then traveled onto the gravel shoulder of the highway, overturning as it went down an embankment, according to the CHP.

The bus came to rest on its left side against some trees about 30 feet below the road.

Sixteen students were on the bus at the time of the crash.

The bus driver and about five of the students were wearing seat belts. No one was ejected from the bus.

The injuries sustained by the students ranged from minor to moderate, according to the release.