Overview

• A school bus carrying Cupertino students to St. Clare Retreat was rear-ended on Highway 17 on May 19, resulting in minor injuries to some of the 20–30 children onboard.
• The crash occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. near Vine Hill Road, prompting swift emergency response and ongoing California Highway Patrol (CHP) investigations.
• This incident follows a May 16 charter bus fire on the same highway, where 32 children and five adults were safely evacuated without injuries.
• The southbound right lane of Highway 17 remains closed as of midday May 19, causing significant traffic delays with no estimated reopening time.
• Highway 17, a steep and curvy corridor through the Santa Cruz Mountains, is under renewed scrutiny for safety and maintenance after these back-to-back incidents.