The Region : 7 Injured as Brakes Fail on School Bus

A school bus careened down a hill backwards, trapping one teen-ager under its rear axle, injuring six others and narrowly missing scores of high school students walking home, authorities said. The bus was on a steep incline on Druid Street next to Wilson High School when its brakes apparently failed, Principal Joseph Rao said. Sylvia Tonsche, 15, a 10th grade student, suffered serious injuries when she was trapped under the rear axle of the bus. She was admitted to County-USC Medical Cente1915625537Rosales, 15, suffered minor injuries when the bus pushed her into a tree, police said. The driver and four children on the bus, which was carrying students from nearby El Sereno Junior High, suffered minor injuries. “What prevented it from becoming a catastrophe was a tree that withstood the bus’ impact” and stopped it from reaching other students, said Richard Chavez, Wilson High dean of students.