Bus crash on California highway leaves 10 dead

SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - A tour bus overturned on a central California freeway on Tuesday, leaving as many as 10 people dead and dozens injured, according to media reports.

The San Francisco Chronicle reported the bus was thought to be carrying French Canadian tourists.

Several ambulances and helicopters were at the scene of the accident, which occurred on an overpass of the 101 freeway near the city of Soledad. The freeway was shut down indefinitely in both directions.

The cause of the accident was unclear. Several passengers were ejected from the bus and landed on the freeway and on the railway tracks below, according to the Chronicle.

A spokesperson for the California Highway Patrol was not immediately available for comment.

The accident occurred just before 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday.

(Reporting by Alexei Oreskovic; edited by Todd Eastham)