No students were injured in the accident that took place on Feb. 16 between a school bus and a Tesla. (Photo: Mark Alexander, Facebook)

School bus crash on State Route 18

On Feb. 16, 2023, at approximately 2:20 p.m., a traffic crash occurred on State Route 18, south of Pine Avenue in Rimforest.

Party #2 was driving Vehicle #2 (a Tesla) southbound on State Route 18, south of Pine Avenue, ahead of Vehicle #1 (a Bluebird school bus). Party #2 applied the brakes of the Tesla and stopped behind a line of stopped traffic ahead.

For unknown reasons, Party #1, the driver of the school bus, was unable to stop the bus in time and the school bus crashed into the rear of the Tesla.

Party #2 was transported by ambulance to Mountains Community Hospital for a complaint of pain to the neck and back. No students on board the school bus were injured.

Dr. Kimberly Fricker, the superintendent of schools, provided the following comment: “The Rim of the World Unified School District takes the transportation and safety of our students seriously. In accordance with the ROWUSD internal regulatory controls, the school district will be conducting its own internal investigation into the matter in addition to working with law enforcement.

“We place the highest priority on public safety and will take all measures necessary to ensure the safety of our students and others,” Dr. Fricker said.