Three De Soto School District students were taken to the hospital this morning (Oct. 8) following an accident involving a school bus and another vehicle on Hwy. 67 near Hwy. JJ southeast of De Soto. The school bus driver and the driver of the other vehicle also were transported to the hospital, said Cpl. Dallas Thompson of the Missouri State Highway Patrol
Thompson said he did not have details about what caused the accident because the
highway patrol was working to complete its accident report this morning after getting a call about the accident around 6:40 a.m.
Thompson said six students were on the bus, and the three who went to the hospital were taken there for precautionary reasons. He said he did not know the condition of the bus driver or the driver of the other vehicle.
De Soto Superintendent Josh Isaacson said he did not know the extent of the bus driver’s injuries but had been told they were not life threatening. He also said the driver has worked for the district for a few years.
Isaacson said he was alerted to the accident at about 6:35 a.m. and was told the bus was traveling south on Hwy. 67 and was making a left turn onto Hwy. JJ when the accident occurred. He said he believed the other vehicle that was traveling north on the highway.
Isaacson said four high school students and two junior high school students were on the bus. He said the students were evaluated at the scene, and two high school students and one junior high student were taken to a hospital for evaluation at their parents’ request.
“The safety of our staff and students is our highest priority,” he said. “I have driven a bus many times, and I have sat in the training with the bus drivers. I always tell them this is the hardest job in the district.
“It is unfortunate we had some injuries, but I am glad to say the kids were evaluated and there was nothing major in terms of injuries,” Isaacson said. “For the drivers, I am just glad, as far as we know, the injuries are not life threatening.”
The Leader will update this story when more information is available.