Tour Bus Crash Near Pomona Leaves One Dead

By Yosi Yahoudai Founder and Managing Partner

August 28, 2026

Bus Accidents

POMONA, CA – An 89-year-old woman was killed and another person was injured Friday when a tour bus caught fire on the eastbound Pomona Freeway in Hacienda Heights, according to the California Highway Patrol. 

The fire was reported at about 5:38 a.m. near Hacienda Boulevard. The driver of the Mercedes-Benz tour bus pulled onto the shoulder after a mechanical problem and smoke from the rear engine area. Passengers were evacuated, but one person remained unaccounted for and was later found dead on the bus. 

The second injured person’s condition was not immediately disclosed. The initial reports did not identify the woman who died, the bus operator or the origin of the mechanical problem. Investigators had not announced a final cause. 

If you or a loved one have been injured in an accident, we’d like to speak with you. Our accident attorneys are available for a free and confidential consultation, 24/7.

Tour Bus Accident in Pomona Under Investigation 

A fire investigation generally begins only after crews make the scene safe. Investigators may document the area of origin, burn patterns, utilities, electrical equipment, fuel sources, alarms, sprinklers, exits, occupancy records, and witness observations.  

A routine arson-unit response to a fatal fire does not itself mean that arson occurred. Officials often withhold a cause while laboratory work, interviews, and property examinations continue. Questions about code compliance, maintenance, or responsibility should remain open unless an agency or court resolves them. 

Reports written during an active response often change as agencies interview witnesses, review video, inspect vehicles or property and receive medical or coroner findings.  

For people directly affected by an incident, contemporaneous records can become important later. Photographs, medical paperwork, repair estimates, witness contact information, insurance correspondence, and official report numbers can help preserve an accurate timeline.  

Those materials may also clarify which public agency handled the scene and whether a later supplemental report was issued. The most reliable next update will generally come from the investigating agency, a fire department, a medical examiner, or a court filing.