Greyhound bus overturns, 2 dead in California crash

SANTA MARIA, Calif. — A Greyhound bus with 44 people on board went off a highway and overturned, killing two people and injuring more than three dozen others, authorities said.

The accident occurred about 7:10 a.m. on Highway 101 in Santa Maria in northern Santa Barbara County, said Capt. Keith Cullom of the county Fire Department.

The northbound bus rolled onto its side and slid at least 100 yards before hitting a tree, authorities said.

Cullom said two people were killed but details weren’t immediately available.

The bus had left Los Angeles about four hours earlier and was headed to San Francisco, said Kim Plaskett, a spokeswoman for the Dallas-based bus line.

Relief buses were being sent to Santa Maria to collect the passengers who were able to continue their trip, Plaskett said.

Seven people suffered major injuries, four had moderate injuries and others suffered minor injuries, authorities said.

‘‘There are a lot of walking wounded,’’ Cullom said.

Hydraulic equipment had to be used to free four survivors from the wreckage.

Helicopters were sent to airlift some of the injured to hospitals.

Santa Maria is located about 75 miles northwest of Santa Barbara.