A bus transporting 24 Fox High School students home was hit by a 2021 Kia Rio near the intersection of Old Hwy. 21 and West Outer 21 Road west of Arnold. None of the students were injured, and the woman driving the car was issued a citation for allegedly driving without proof of insurance, the Jefferson County Sheriff’s Office reported.
The accident happened at 11:38 a.m. Jan. 12, the report said. The Fox C-6 School District dismissed early that day.
A 59-year-old Imperial woman was driving the Rio south on Old Hwy. 21, and the bus, which was driven by a 49-year-old Arnold woman, was traveling north on the highway. The Rio crossed the center line and ran into the bus, the report said.
After hitting the front driver’s side of the bus, the Rio continued to slide down the side of the bus. The Rio was significantly damaged and was towed, according to the report.
The bus was moderately damaged with its front driver’s side wheel well cracked, a scratch down the side of the bus and the outside rear driver’s side wheel was blown out. The bus was driven away from the scene, the Sheriff’s Office reported.
No one involved in the accident appeared to be injured. However, four students who hit their heads in the accident were examined by paramedics, according to the report.
Fox High School Principal Ryan Sherp sent two messages to families of students traveling on the bus shortly after the accident.
The first message said, “Initial reports from the Transportation Department indicated that all
students aboard the bus are okay. Out of an abundance of caution, emergency responders are
on their way to the scene and will be evaluating all students before they are loaded on a new bus to go home.”
A second message said, “We are happy to report that all students on board bus 20 are safe and have been cleared by medical personnel. All students were evaluated by first responders and cleared to board a new bus and are now on their way home. Thank you for your patience as we worked to safely deliver students to school.”