CAR-BUS COLLISION INJURES 3 IN EL CAJON

January 4, 2009 (El Cajon) – Just before 9:00 a.m. this morning, Heartland Deputy Fire Chief Rick Sitta was first on scene of a collision between a Metropolitan Transit System (MTS) bus and a small car at the intersection of Douglas Avenue and Van Houten Avenue in El Cajon.

As Heartland Fire & Rescue crews from El Cajon responded, Chief Sitta broke open a side rear window to gain access to the driver, who was found not breathing, and initiated emergency aid.

Arriving emergency crews from had to use the jaws-of-life to extricate the seriously injured driver from his vehicle. He was then transported to Sharp Memorial Hospital’s trauma center. Two people on board the transit bus were transported with injuries, including one in serious condition.

The area of Van Houten and Douglas Avenues were closed for a few hours following the collision, but have now been reopened. MTS Transit officials and El Cajon Police are investigating the cause of the collision.