Semi truck crashes into school bus near Colville; bus driver seriously injured

A school bus carrying 25 elementary students collided with a semi truck Friday morning on U.S. Highway 395 north of Colville, seriously injuring the bus driver and leaving a number of students with minor cuts and bruises.

Trooper Jeff Sevigney, a spokesman for the Washington State Patrol, said the crash occurred about 7:20 a.m. The semi truck was traveling north and the bus attempted to make a left turn onto the highway from Williams Lake Road.

“Early indications are the bus didn’t yield properly when it pulled out in front of the semi,” Sevigney said.

He posted a photo on Twitter showing damage on the front of both vehicles. The exterior panels covering the engine compartments were dislodged. The vehicles were upright and blocking the highway.

Sevigney asked motorists to avoid the area while the crash was being investigated. A detour was established on Williams Lake Road.

Most of the students were taken to a nearby boat company, Hewes Marine, to be picked up by their parents.

The bus driver’s injuries were serious but not life-threatening, and two students were taken by ambulance to Providence Mount Carmel Hospital in Colville, Sevigney said. No injuries to the semi-truck driver were reported.

A number of parents were taking their children to the hospital for evaluations.

“Most of the students either went home or went to get checked out,” said Pete Lewis, Colville School District superintendent.

The district’s bus services are contracted out to a company called First Student. A manager in the company’s Colville office didn’t immediately return a phone call Friday afternoon.

The damaged vehicles remained on the highway through Friday afternoon. Sevigney said the crash was still under investigation and it wasn’t clear if either driver would face charges.