Passenger Dies After Fire Breaks Out on Tour Bus Carrying Propane Tanks

On Friday, Aug. 21, one person was killed when a tour bus caught on fire in Southern California, leaving another person injured, according to reports.

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One person has died after a tour bus caught fire in Los Angeles County, Calif., on Friday, Aug. 21

Another person was injured and transported to a local hospital

An investigation into the cause of the fire is ongoing

One person is dead, and another was hurt after a tour bus caught on fire on a highway in Southern California.

On Friday, Aug. 21, just before 6 a.m. local time, officials were dispatched to the eastbound lanes of the 60 Freeway in the City of Industry following a report of a bus fire, CBS affiliate KCBS, CW affiliate KTLA and ABC News reported.

That morning, the driver of the Viajes Azteca bus pulled over to the side of the highway when he realized the check engine light was on, KCBS reported.

“Once he was stopped on the right shoulder, he noticed smoke emerging from the rear of the vehicle,” Zachary Salazar, an officer with the California Highway Patrol (CHP), told the outlet.

‘I get up from my seat and I turned to the back and I see the smoke and I started yelling to the people, and to the driver, ‘The bus is on fire,’ ” a passenger told KCBS.

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The driver quickly evacuated the bus, which had 18 passengers on board. When first responders arrived, they extinguished the fire and found one person dead, according to the reports. A separate victim was transported to an area hospital for medical treatment.

During a search of the vehicle, crews discovered multiple propane tanks below the bus and a vast amount of luggage, the outlets reported. Video from the scene showed the charred end of the bus, which was destroyed by flames and smoke.

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Currently, the cause of the fire remains under investigation. The CHP, the Los Angeles County Fire Department, the Los Angeles County Coroner’s Office and the bus company did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s requests for comment.

This is the first incident that has been reported for Viajes Azteca, which has a satisfactory safety rating, according to KCBS.

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