(CNN) — A bus in northern Oregon skidded on ice, crashed through a guardrail and tumbled a couple hundred feet down an embankment on Sunday morning, killing nine people and injuring at least 18.
The crash took place on Interstate 84 east of Pendleton, Oregon State Police said. Emergency responders, including people trained for rope rescues, were on the scene to help move victims back to the highway.
The injured, including the bus driver, were transported to local hospitals with a range of injuries. The cause of the crash is under investigation. The driver suffered severe injuries and has not yet spoken to authorities, police said.
About 40 people are thought to have been aboard the charter bus, which was returning to Vancouver, British Columbia, from Las Vegas, police said. The name of the bus company was not released.
Westbound lanes of Interstate 84 were closed near the crash site.
By CNN Staff.
CNN’s Lateef Mungin contributed to this story.
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