Driver arrested after crash that killed eight
October 06, 2008 14:21 EDT

WILLIAMS, Calif. (AP) -- The driver of the casino-bound bus that was involved in yesterday's deadly crash in California is under arrest, on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.

The state Highway Patrol says it's investigating whether prescription or nonprescription drugs were involved in the crash, which killed eight people. Authorities had initially reported 10 people dead. Dozens more were injured as the bus left the road, tumbling into a ditch and ejecting some passengers, rolling on top of some of them.

A highway patrol spokesman says the bus had drifted off the rural road before the driver "overcorrected" and swerved back.

Authorities say the driver had a valid commercial driver's license, but the patrol is looking into whether he had the proper permits to drive a bus in California.

Authorities haven't yet determined the name of the charter company.

The bus, which had left Sacramento, was 10 miles from its destination when it crashed.

A spokeswoman at one of the hospitals where victims were taken says 11 are still there, with four in critical condition and one in serious condition.