No injuries were reported in a minor crash Wednesday when a Durango School District 9-R school bus was struck by an SUV near Animas Valley Elementary School.
The crash happened about 3 p.m. about a quarter mile north of Hermosa Meadows Road at the entrance to Lone Pine Trailer Park on U.S. Highway 550, closing both lanes at the time. The bus was carrying students from Animas Valley, 9-R spokeswoman Julie Popp said.
“Medics are on the scene evaluating as a precaution,” she said. “Some students are being handed over to parents, and the rest we’re putting on a new bus to finish transporting them.”
There were 31 children on the bus, Colorado State Patrol Trooper Uriah Talbot said.
“The school bus had stopped to let children off, and the driver behind it didn’t realize the bus had stopped in time for her to stop,” he said. “She was the only person in the vehicle. She hit on the passenger’s side, and the airbags (in the SUV) deployed, or there might have been a different story on injuries.”
Talbot identified the driver as Connie Beiser, 50, of Durango, who was driving a Toyota Rav4. He cited her for careless driving.
“There is no aggravated charge for hitting a school bus,” he said, “but I did make it a mandatory court date for her.”
abutler@durangoherald.com
