De Soto School bus driver Shannon M. Green and three students riding the bus were injured this morning (Oct. 8) in a two-vehicle on Hwy. 67 near Hwy. JJ southeast of De Soto. A French Village woman who was driving the other vehicle, an SUV, also was injured in the accident, the Missouri State Highway Patrol reported.
At 6:32 a.m., Green, 45, of Festus was driving the 2017 Chevrolet Express school bus south on Hwy. 67 and while trying to turn left, pulled into the path of a 2019 Toyota Rav4 driven by Nichole D. Fisher, 45, of French Village, and the front of the SUV struck the right front side of the bus, the report said.
Green and Fisher had minor injuries, as did the three students – all girls from De Soto, one 13 years old, another 15 and one 17, according to the report.
All of them, except Fisher were taken by Joachim-Plattin Ambulance to Mercy Hospital South in south St. Louis County. Fisher was taken to Mercy Hospital Jefferson in Crystal City.
Both Green and Fisher were treated and released, a Mercy spokesman said.
No information was available about the students’ conditions.
De Soto Superintendent Josh Isaacson said the bus driver has worked for the district for a few years.
He said four high school students and two junior high school students were on the bus when the accident occurred. He also said two of the injured students were high schoolers and one was a junior high student, and all three 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.
Isaacson said he was glad none of the injuries were too serious.
The two drivers were wearing seat belts, and the students were exempt from wearing them, the patrol reported.
Both the school bus and the SUV were totaled, the report said.