More truck/school bus crash details released.

May 16, 2019

More truck/school bus crash details released.

By Allison Scarbrough, Editor.

WEARE TOWNSHIP – A Hart Public Schools bus transporting 46 students was rear-ended by a flat-bed farming truck on Oceana Drive near Jackson Road Wednesday, May 15, at 3:30 p.m.

Initial information received by investigators at the scene indicated there were 29 students on the bus, but the accident report released Thursday, May 16, indicates there were 47 total bus occupants.

Related story here

Investigators at the scene did not have immediate information whether anyone on the 2009 school bus was injured. However, the report indicates that the bus driver – a 59-year-old Hart woman – received a minor injury as did a 14-year-old male student. Although, neither of them were transported by ambulance, according to the report. Some parents indicated that they later transported their own children to medical facilities for injuries sustained in the crash.

The driver of the 1995 Ford F800 truck owned by Monton Farms suffered non-life-threatening injuries, according to the report. The truck driver, who is an 89-year-old Pentwater, man was transported by Life EMS to Mercy Health Partners Hackley Campus in Muskegon according to accident investigators.

– Oceana County Sheriff’s Office photo

The school bus was able to be driven away from the scene, while the truck was towed.

Witnesses told police the bus was stopped to drop students off with its flashers on, investigators said.

The bus driver “stated she came to a complete stop at the bus stop at 5254 N. Oceana Dr., when the school bus was rear ended” by the truck, the report states.

A witness told police that the truck “failed to stop for the school bus, which was stopped in the road at a bus stop” and it rear ended the bus, the report states.

The report states that the truck driver was “unable to stop in an assured clear distance.” He was not wearing a seat belt, the report states.

The Oceana County Sheriff’s Office, Life EMS, the Hart Area Fire Department, Michigan State Police and Pentwater Fire and Rescue responded to the scene.

This story is copyrighted © 2019, all rights reserved by Media Group 31, LLC, PO Box 21, Scottville, MI 49454. No portion of this story or images may be reproduced in any way, including print or broadcast, without expressed written consent.

Eats