A school bus carrying El Camino High School students overturned in Oceanside sending several students to area hospitals.
The bus, carrying 23 students, overturned after hitting a car on El Camino Real at North Douglas Drive at about 11.20 a.m.
"I just heard a big bang and I came out," said witness Judy Morris. "Chaos, everything was going crazy. People all in here were running, people coming this way."
An elderly driver had exited her mobile home park onto the busy road and tried to merge with traffic, but ended up broadsiding the bus, witnesses said.
"I thought she would turn into the turn lane but she just plowed right into the bus, I was reaching for my phone because I had a feeling she wouldn't stop and she didn't," witness Jayelyn Lansky said.
The bus driver apparently lost control, hit a curb and then flipped onto its side.
Eight students and the bus driver were transported to area hospitals. One of the students was airlifted to Scripps La Jolla as a precaution. The other victims had minor to moderate injuries, CHP officials said.
The students were returning to their school after spending the morning tutoring some nearby elementary students.
A district spokesperson said the bus is equipped with lap belts, but it's unknown if any of the students were actually wearing them.
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The bus was eventually pulled up right and is now at the district yard being examined.
The driver of the car that collided with the bus said the intersection is extremely dangerous, but she may not have known what happened.
"As far as that bus, I never even saw him, he just came out of nowhere," said Betty Hoke.
The California Highway Patrol is investigating the accident.
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