30 injured when private charter bus overturns on Hwy. 101 in SF

Crews respond after a bus overturned on Highway 101 just north of Cesar Chavez Boulevard in S.F. Crews respond after a bus overturned on Highway 101 just north of Cesar Chavez Boulevard in S.F. Image 1 of / 15 Caption Close 30 injured when private charter bus overturns on Hwy. 101 in SF 1 / 15 Back to Gallery

A private charter bus loaded with at least 30 people overturned on Highway 101 in San Francisco on Friday night, tumbling onto its side and skidding across the busy freeway, leaving everyone aboard injured, four seriously, officials said.

The crash occurred just after 8 p.m. in the southbound lanes of Highway 101, north of Cesar Chavez Street in an area known as Hospital Curve.

The crash shut down all but one of the southbound lanes on the freeway, said Officer Vu Williams of the California Highway Patrol. By 2:15 a.m. Saturday, all lanes had reopened, the CHP said.

Fire engines, ambulances and police cars sped to the scene with sirens blaring and emergency lights flashing. Assistant Fire Chief Bill Storti of the San Francisco Fire Department said 27 people aboard the bus made it out on their own or helped others crawl to safety through escape hatches in the roof or out broken windows.

He said at least two people inside the bus, which came to a rest on its right side, had to be rescued by firefighters. The two passengers were trapped inside the bus, and firefighters had to use the Jaws of Life to free them, Storti said.

All 29 passengers and the driver were taken to hospitals, and at least eight — five women and three men — were transported to San Francisco General Hospital, said Brent Andrew, a hospital spokesman.

“They are undergoing evaluation right now,” Andrew said about 10 p.m. “We don’t think any of the eight are going to be critical.”

Several people arrived at the hospital emergency room dressed in formal attire. “They haven’t told us anything,” said one man, who declined to give his name. He said he knew people aboard the bus and learned of the crash when a friend called him.

Witnesses told investigators that the bus was heading south in the fast lane when it suddenly began to fishtail and careen out of control. It hit the center divider before tipping over on its right side, said Williams.

Williams said the bus skidded on its side into the far right lanes and shoulder. Drivers on the freeway slammed on their brakes and swerved to avoid hitting it.

The driver was not one of those who suffered major injuries, Williams said. The front window of the bus was broken out, and the rear of the vehicle appeared charred.

Williams said the cause of the crash is under investigation. He said it was not immediately clear how fast the bus was traveling when the wreck occurred or if speed was a factor.

Signage on the back of the bus said “Kings,” but a man who answered the phone at Kings VIP transportation in San Francisco said the bus that crashed was sold two years ago to another company.

Annie Ma, Steve Rubenstein and Sara Ravani are San Francisco Chronicle staff writers. Email: ama@sfchronicle.com, srubenstein@sfchronicle.com, sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @anniema15, @SteveRubeSF, @SarRavani