SCHOOL BUS CRASH
REPORTS 2006
Lakewood
school bus in rollover accident; 20 hurt
September 15, 2006
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A
Lakewood Public Schools bus rolled over at about 7:30 a.m. today
on M-50, about two miles west of Lake Odessa in Ionia County.
About 20 children, ages 8 to 16, were taken to area hospitals,
sheriff and school officials said. None of injuries was believed
to be life-threatening. WZZM-TV in Grand Rapids said nine
students were sent to Spectrum Hospital and were in fair
condition. |
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Other
students were transported to Pennock and Butterworth hospitals.
There were
conflicting reports about the severity of some of the injuries.
"I've never
seen a bus on its side," said Lakewood schools Superintendent Mike
O'Mara, who arrived on the scene shortly after the accident occurred.
"There were a lot of kids crying."
Dwain
Dennis, Ionia County sheriff, said the accident happened when a
southbound driver on Bliss Road went through a stop sign at M-50 and
collided with the eastbound bus. The bus, which was fully loaded with
roughly 45 kids, flipped on its side and skidded about 30 feet before
coming to rest in the grass by the side of the road . The students
escaped through a roof hatch.
The driver
of the car, Caitlin Veldkamp, 18, of Lake Odessa, told sheriff's
officials that she applied her brakes but they weren't working, they
said. She also was taken to an area hospital.
Dennis said
"the fog was very dense at that location at that time," although
officials have not determined if it played a role in the accident.
They also
have not determined if any charges will be filed in the accident.
Emergency
officials arrived about 10 minutes after the rollover; all of the
children were out of the bus on their own power. School officials
notified parents, many of whom had already been contacted by children
with cellphones.
Those who
were not transported to hospitals were released to their parents. They
were not expected to attend school today, O'Mara said.
By Derek
Wallbank Lansing State Journal
back to
Crash Reports 2006
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