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SALT LAKE CITY — The Utah Transit Authority is putting out a warning after a ski bus crashed into a car parked illegally over the weekend.
The crash happened Saturday morning on the S-curve in Big Cottonwood Canyon. The car was too far into the road, over the white line, according to UTA spokesman Carl Arky.
"The cars were parked illegally," Arky said. "They were over that white line, and there wasn't enough room for the bus to get by and not enough room for him to move into the oncoming lane and veer over there because there's just so much traffic up there on a weekend."
Elsie Johnson was a passenger on the bus, ready for a day of skiing.
"It was just loud," Johnson said. "It was just really loud and plastic and glass breaking and scraping for a good couple of seconds."
She called it "scary" and "frustrating."
Fortunately, no one was hurt.
"The car was parked like right on the curve in a very dangerous spot, first of all," Johnson said, "and then they were also over the line."
Everyone on the bus waited about 90 minutes for police to arrive and investigate. Then, the bus was cleared to continue up the canyon.
It's still in operation, Arky said, although the body needs some repair work.
"Our concern is we have enough room for our buses to get by," Arky said. "Everybody wants to get up to the ski resorts and hit the slopes, so we're asking everybody, please park legally."
Johnson called it a "good reminder" for all drivers.
"Make sure you stay far away from that white line in the road," she said.
Arky said the driver of the parked car and their insurance company will be responsible for the damage to the bus.
