School Buses Collide in Southern Minnesota, 5 Children Hospitalized & Bus Driver Cited
Austin, MN (KROC-AM News)- Five children were hurt after a pair of school buses collided in rural southern Minnesota.
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A news release issued Monday by the Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office says six children were riding one of the buses. One of the bus drivers was given a citation following the collision.
First responders were called to the crash shortly before 5:45 p.m. Monday. Responding deputies found one of the buses facing south partially in the ditch and the other was seen at an angle facing northeast.
Five Children Injured, Bus Driver Cited in Crash Between School Buses at Rural Austin Intersection
The school buses collided at the intersection of Freeborn County Rd. 34 and Freeborn County Rd. 19, which is about 10 miles southwest of Austin.
The preliminary investigation indicates a Glenville-Emmons School Bus was traveling east on County Rd. 19 and was in the intersection when it was hit by a Palmer School bus that was northbound on County Rd. 34.
Authorities say the Palmer bus struck the Glenville-Emmons bus on the rear of the passenger side.
74-year-old Charles Tros of Albert Lea was driving the Glenville-Emmons bus and 34-year-old Richard Winkels of Austin was behind the wheel of the Palmer bus.
Four children riding on the Glenville-Emmons bus were brought to a Mayo Clinic hospital in Austin. A fifth student was taken to the hospital by private vehicle, the news release says.
Winkles was also taken to the hospital. No children were riding on the bus he was driving, officials say.
The Freeborn County Sheriff’s Office says all injuries suffered in the crash are non-life-threatening. Trost was cited for failure to yield at a controlled intersection, the news release says.
Mayo Ambulance, Hayward Fire Department, Myrtle Fire Department, London Fire Department, Mower County Sheriff’s Office and State Patrol also responded to the crash.
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