Driver of empty school bus injured in crash near Ellendale
Jul. 2—ELLENDALE, N.D. — A 35-year-old woman driving an empty school bus was injured Friday, July 1, after swerving to avoid rear-ending another empty school bus on U.S. Highway 281, the North Dakota Highway Patrol said.
The accident occurred at 3:33 p.m. 8 miles north of Ellendale.
The patrol said a pickup and two school buses were northbound on the highway.
The pickup, which was in the lead, slowed down to negotiate a left-hand turn to travel westbound on 89th Street Southeast. The second school bus driver, who was from Olds, Alberta, hit the brakes on the 2022 International Navistar school bus and swerved right into the east ditch to avoid striking the lead school bus.
The second bus traveled north in the east ditch, striking an embankment at the intersection of 89th Street Southeast, traveled over the embankment, struck a highway sign and entered the east ditch again. The bus sustained front-end damage.
The driver of the second school bus was transported by ambulance to Ellendale airport, the patrol said. Care Flight transported the driver to Avera Hospital in Aberdeen, South Dakota, to be treated for her injuries sustained in the crash. She was wearing a seat belt.
Neither school bus had passengers.
The patrol is investigating the crash.
