UPDATED: Unsafe Speed Caused Pala Casino Tour Bus Crash That Injured 23

A tour bus from Pala Casino crashed on the 15 Freeway in Corona Thursday forcing a long-term closure, and the driver is being blamed for the wreck that injured 23.

[UPDATE: One of the injured has died, click here for that story.]

Jian Fei Duan, 35, of Baldwin Park was driving a Sina Coach tour bus northbound on Interstate 15 from Pala Casino to Westminster. Duan was traveling at approximately 65 mph in the rain -- "unsafe speed for roadway conditions," said California Highway Patrol officer Travis Monks.

As he passed the Ontario Avenue freeway exit at approximately 2:30 p.m., Duan was "unable to maintain control of the bus on the wet roadway. The bus traveled off the roadway, into the center median area. [It] struck the center median guardrail and overturned onto its side, coming to rest blocking the #1 and #2 traffic lanes," Monks said.   

According to its website, Walnut-Calif.-based Sina offers charter services for Pala. 

The Corona Fire Department had requested all northbound lanes closed so triage could be conducted and a helicopter could land, according to the CHP dispatch.

The freeway closure took place at Ontario Boulevard. As of 3:32 p.m. Thursday, the freeway was partially reopened, with the #1 and #2 lanes still blocked. It took another nearly five hours before the freeway was fully reopened.

Pala Casino spokesman Jack Taylor confirmed that 22 passengers were onboard the bus as well as a driver. Monks said all the passengers were taken to various local hospitals for treatment of injuries that ranged from minor to moderate. The bus driver sustained minor injuries but was not transported, Monks added.

[UPDATE: One of the injured has died, click here for that story.]

The bus was the only crash vehicle, Corona Fire Chief John Medina confirmed.

When asked for comment, Sina Coach declined to provide any statement Thursday, despite repeated calls to the company. 

The Press-Enterprise reported Sina Coach has been cited twice in the past two years for violations, including for having a non-English-speaking driver and for having a driver who could not understand highway traffic signs.

California Highway Patrol, Inland Division Major Accident Investigation Team, conducted an on scene investigation of Thursday's wreckage and has stored the bus as evidence in order to conduct a full mechanical inspection, Monks reported.

Earlier Thursday, an RTA commuter bus crashed on SR-74. Click here for that report.

Also, a tour bus crash Thursday afternoon on the southbound 15 Freeway in the Pala Mesa area left one dead and dozens injured.Click here for that report. Taylor confirmed the Pala Mesa crash did not involve Pala Casino.