A Riverside woman driving a school bus with no passengers apparently blacked out, crashed into the back of a pickup truck in Norco, and was later pronounced dead, a sheriff’s department spokesman said today.
Joyce Werley, 68, was driving a mid-size Corona/Norco School District bus on River Road north of Bluff Street at about 11:30 a.m. Friday when the bus struck guard rails on each side of the road several times, then rear-ended a pickup truck, according to sheriff’s Sgt. James Woodland.
The driver of the pickup truck attempted to revive Werley until emergency services arrived, but the combined efforts of the driver and arriving deputies and fire personnel were unsuccessful in reviving her, Woodland said.
Werley was taken to Corona Regional Medical Center where the coroner pronounced her dead at 12:19 p.m.
“Further investigation revealed witnesses saw the female unconscious behind the wheel as the bus was traveling northbound on River Road,” Woodland said.
River Road was closed for about seven hours during the investigation, which was still ongoing. Investigators asked anyone with information about the incident to call (951) 955-9230.
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Joyce Werley was not just any driver. She was my Mom. She was supposed to turn 68 yesterday. She drove bus for over 37years and attained numerous accomadations for safe driving and earned the respect and adoration of coworkers, teachers and students alike. I drive bus in Oregon. The last week of school I drove with her route number 303 on the side of my bus. I cant tell you what a gaping hole this has made upon us all. I have now lost both my parents. My Dad passed of cancer on New Year’s Eve 2005 and my Mom was trying to hold it all up. Many people do not know how taking things for granted is the worse atribute you can hold. I never did. Thanks to Mama I learned to be grateful for everything I have. I am grateful to have had her for a Mom and while I wish her back I know God must have needed another angel badly, because she left us way too soon. If you have any further questions you may reach me via email. Thankyou so very much. And thankyou Mr. James B. for putting someone else before himself…something Mama would have done. God bless you sir, always.