Around 9 a.m., a blast was reported at a refueling station in the 400 block of Cota Street, where a Riverside Transit Authority bus and privately-owned passenger van were filling their tanks, according to Corona police Sgt. Jerry Pawluczenko.

“It was only those two vehicles there at the time,” Pawluczenko said. “Officers and firefighters arrived on scene and found six people injured. Out of the six, three were transported to hospitals. One victim, because he had some severe lower leg injury, was taken to Loma Linda University Medical Center (in San Bernardino).”

The RTA bus was unoccupied at the time, except for the driver, and most of the injuries occurred in the van, Pawluczenko said.

He said the bus appeared to be largely unscathed, and the van took the brunt of the blast.

“There is debris,” Pawluczenko said. “It looks like part of a propane-like tank and some other vehicle (parts).”

No businesses in the immediate vicinity were damaged in the incident, he said.

The cause of the explosion was under investigation.

Part of Cota Street, between Rincon and Harrison streets, will remain closed until investigators complete their inquiry, Pawluczenko said.

He expected a preliminary finding before day's end.