Turner was not on the bus

An accident involving a tour bus carrying road crew for country singer Josh Turner has crashed in Central California, leaving one dead and seven injured.

The California Highway Patrol (CHP) says the bus left following a concert at Vina Robles in San Luis Obispo County when the driver veered off the road through vegetation until he hit a riverbed on Highway 46 in Shandon just before midnight last night. The bus went over an 80 foot cliff where it impacted the sand.

Two passengers were ejected, killing one and leaving others sustaining major injuries. Emergency crews extracted the driver and transported him to a Fresno hospital.

CHP officials confirm that neither Turner nor his band were on the bus.

The bus was traveling 60-65 mph in a 55 mph zone and crews will be on scene throughout the day to investigate. CHP has ruled out drugs or alcohol were involved, but will be looking into whether medical issues were a factor.

The bus following says no break lights were seen as it left the road. CHP will impound the vehicle to check for mechanical issues.

Firefighters had to use rope to help get the patients out of the embankment.

The buses were heading to Washington State for a gig Friday night (Sept 20th) night in Yakima and a Saturday show in Canyonville, OR before making its way back to California for a performance at the Kern County Fair in Bakersfield on Monday, Sept 23rd. No word if any dates have been postponed or canceled as of press time.

More details as they become available.