At least 55 people were injured, with two in serious condition, when a Metro light rail train and a University of Southern California (USC) shuttle bus collided on Tuesday along Exposition Boulevard in downtown Los Angeles. The incident occurred near the USC campus and the Natural History Museum, according to the L.A. Fire Department.

The crash took place shortly before noon, and the L.A. Fire Department reported that two victims were hospitalized with serious injuries, while 16 others were transported in fair condition. An additional 37 people received treatment at the scene.

According to Dave Sotero, a spokesperson for L.A. Metro, the accident occurred when the shuttle bus crossed into the path of an E Line train. The E Line stretches from East Los Angeles to downtown Santa Monica, primarily running along streets, and not all of its crossings have gates.

Witnesses at the Expo/Vermont Metro station, such as Genesis Hernandez, who was transferring from a Metro bus to catch the E Line to Santa Monica for college, witnessed the aftermath of the collision. Hernandez described seeing several ambulances rushing by and noted that the front end of the bus appeared to be severely damaged, while the train seemed relatively unharmed.

Television news footage showed the left side of the red and white USC shuttle bus crushed against the first car of the Metro train, with significant damage to the front section of the bus.

The USC Transportation department stated that the 40-passenger Starcraft bus was traveling westbound on Exposition Boulevard with only the driver and one passenger on board at the time of the collision. Both the bus driver and passenger sustained the most severe injuries, according to officials from the fire department.

The Metro train was carrying more than 150 passengers heading towards Santa Monica, as confirmed by officials. Sotero mentioned that the Los Angeles Police Department would take charge of the investigation into the incident.

Metro expressed sympathy for those injured in an email statement issued by Sotero. In the aftermath of the crash, Exposition Boulevard was temporarily closed in both directions for investigation. Metro informed passengers that train services would be limited, and buses would be arranged to transport them through the affected area.