Max Reinhart – The Detroit News
A school bus packed with 37 children careened off a dirt road and into a ditch Thursday in Washtenaw County, leaving about a dozen kids with minor injuries, authorities said.
The only person transported via ambulance was the driver, who was complaining of lower back pain, said Augusta Township Fire Chief Dave Music.
Music said first responders were called to the crash site, on Talladay Road, between Bunton and Whittaker roads, at 4:03 p.m. When crews arrived, they found a Lincoln Consolidated School District bus tilted onto its passenger side in a ditch.
“It was a pretty good size ditch,” Music said. “Its wheels were up in the air.”
The chief said the bus apparently slid on the “very, very slick” road while transporting elementary-age children home from school. Music said the road is “crowned,” meaning it has a raised center and slight slopes on either side to improve water drainage.
“I’m sure those kids on the driver’s side were flung to the other side,” Music said.
The kids were able to exit the bus through the front door and were taken to an area safely away from the road, where they were checked for injuries. Michigan State Police responded and assisted with directing traffic. A second school bus came to the scene to serve as a warming station for the kids as they waited for parents.
Injuries included bumps, bruises, a split lip and a possible broken nose, Music said.
Several ambulances responded to the scene as a precautionary measure but each of the children was retrieved by a parent. The driver had to be removed through the bus’ back door. He was transported via ambulance for a possible back injury.
Music said the driver told authorities he was only traveling about 10 miles per hour when he lost control and the bus slid into the ditch.
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