Two Sacramento State students were transported to Sutter Memorial Hospital March 9 when the limousine they were riding in rear-ended a bus on State University Drive East at the entrance to parking lot seven, authorities said.

An ambulance was dispatched at 9:17 a.m. to transport the two students, whose injuries were minor, to the hospital, said Cpt. Niko King, the public information officer for the Sacramento Fire Department.

Another student was also injured but was not transported.

The three injured students were all riding in the Hummer limousine and were not wearing seatbelts, said Sgt. Kelly Clark of the University Police. He characterized their injuries as “minor lacerations” and “not significant.”

No one in the bus, which belongs to University Transportation and Parking Services, was injured.

The limousine is one of several vehicles used by the Universal Limo Service to transport residents to and from the Jefferson Commons apartments.

The driver of the limousine passed a field sobriety test but will probably be cited for driving at an unsafe speed. The impact occurred when the limousine was traveling at an estimated 10 to 15 mph where the posted speed limit is 25 mph, but the speed was still unsafe because the vehicle in front was stopped, Clark said.

The limousine received “very minor damage,” said Marc Sievers, the owner of Universal Limo Service.

The limousine, which is equipped with seatbelts, was ready to be put back in service the next day.

Sievers said the bus acted inappropriately by starting to accelerate and then stopping suddenly.

The driver of the limousine has never been involved in any accidents while working for the limousine service, Sievers said.

University Transportation and Parking Services would not comment on the incident, pending the outcome of the investigation.

The limousine is part of a free shuttle service to Sac State offered by Jefferson Commons.

“I appreciate it; the drivers are cool,” said Jeneba Lahai, a shuttle passenger and Sac State sophomore majoring in biology.

“A lot of people use the free shuttle,” said Janine Hunter, the director of community operations for Jefferson Commons.

The shuttle service is necessary because the apartments have 792 beds but only 650 parking spots.

Of the 650 spots, 236 are under carports, which residents must pay to use.

Currently, the carport parking costs $20 per month, but this fee will be going up in the fall to $25 per month, Hunter said.

Some residents said parking is a problem at Jefferson Commons.

“If you try to get a parking spot after 9 p.m., it’s a crapshoot,” said Jose Villalobos, a Jefferson Commons resident and Sac State junior majoring in music performance.

Crystal England, another resident and Sac State junior majoring in Spanish, said there aren’t enough guest spots.

In fact, there are a total of 19 guest spots for the entire complex.

“Our obligation is to our residents,” said Hunter.

There is no more room to put parking spots and creating more guest spots would take away from resident parking.

Parking outside the complex is not a viable option. Parking on the street is limited to one hour in many places.

The parking lot across the street belongs to a supermarket and is not available to Jefferson Commons residents or guests.

Mishae Parker, a Jefferson Commons resident and Sac State freshman majoring in psychology, has had her car on a tow truck twice.

The first time, the operator charged her $75 to lower it. The second time, the cost was $150.

Parker said that the price gets much higher if the tow truck actually tows the car off the premises.

She also said that on weekends, it is very hard to find a parking spot.Parker no longer has a car and now travels to and from school on the shuttle service.

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Brandon Darnell can be reached at [email protected]