Tour bus crash on I-70 sends 2 to hospital

GRAND COUNTY — A tour bus with members and crew of a band from Mexico was smashed into from behind by a semitrailer truck Monday, injuring at least 13 people.

About 9:40 p.m., a bus "moving slowly" in the right hand lane of I-70 several miles west of the Colorado border was hit from behind by a semi. The initial investigation showed the bus may have been having mechanical problems, said Utah Highway Patrol Cpl. Todd Johnson.

About 25 people were on the bus. Thirteen were injured. Two of the bus passengers were flown to a hospital in Grand Junction, Colo. None of the injuries were believed to be life threatening, he said. Most of the injuries were back and neck related.

The driver of the semi was not injured.

There was no indication of impairment or drowsy driving, Johnson said. He described the tour bus as being "old" and said a full inspection of both the bus and the semi was scheduled to be conducted Tuesday.

Six ambulances from Utah and Colorado were dispatched to the accident as well as two medical helicopters.

The accident remained under investigation Tuesday.

— Pat Reavy Twitter: DNewsCrimeTeam