Students Injured as Wreck Overturns CO Bus
By Joe Moylan
Source Greeley Tribune, Colo.
July 12 -- Multiple people, including students, were injured after a Greeley-Evans School District 6 bus was struck Thursday afternoon by a pickup truck and went off the road on Weld County Road 49.
The bus, which was carrying about 35 people, was northbound on Weld 49 when a southbound driver fell asleep, drifted into the northbound lanes and clipped the bus, according to law enforcement officials at the scene.
The crash occurred near Weld 49 and Weld 22, near Hudson, sending the bus off the east side of Weld 49. The southbound truck continued off the road, ending up about 50 yards off the highway in a cornfield, upright. A tire, likely from the truck, sat in the middle of Weld 49.
A couple of people were injured seriously, including the bus driver, who was taken to the hospital, Colorado State Trooper Gary Cutler said. Officials on the scene have told media there are no fatalities from the crash.
Northbound Weld 49 traffic slowed to a crawl after 4 p.m, and traffic was starting to pick up about 5 p.m.
Cutler said Weld 49 was eventually closed near Weld 24 and Weld 49. It was unclear when the road would reopen Thursday evening.
The crash occurred shortly after 4 p.m. Thursday, and prompted a large response from public safety agencies across Weld County. The Colorado State Patrol, Weld County Sheriff's Office, Platte Valley Fire Department, LaSalle Fire Department, Southeast Weld Fire Department, Hudson Fire Department, Fort Lupton Police, Hudson Town Marshall, Lochbuie Police Department and Lochbuie Fire Department, as well as assorted ambulance services responded to the scene.
Along with first responders came families of students awaiting word on their children. Many teens were being treated at the scene after the wreck, and at least six ambulances came and went from the scene, according to reporting from the scene.
Of the 35 people on the bus, 29 were students from Greeley Central and Northridge high schools. The students were on their way back from Elitch Gardens Theme Park when the crash occurred.
District 6 spokeswoman Theresa Myers said 19 students were taken to area hospitals, including North Colorado Medical Center, Children’s Hospital and Platte Valley Medical Center in Brighton. Myers said District 6 staff members were sent to area hospitals to check on the students and family members Thursday evening.
NCMC took in 15 patients, including 13 students, according to a news release from NCMC. One patient is in serious condition, and was taken to another hospital for further care, according to the release. Among the other patients, four are in fair condition, eight are in good condition and two patients were treated and released, according to the release.
Myers said the students are part of the student recovery program, funded by Greeley philanthropist Bob Tointon, among others.
“It’s a special program for at-risk young men,” Myers said. “They go to school over the summer to try to catch up on their credits.”
The trip to Elitch Gardens was supposed to be a special treat.
By 5 p.m., Greeley Mayor and District 6 Security Director John Gates was en route to Greeley from Estes Park, working to set up a command center at the District 6 Administration Building, 1025 9th Ave.
Facilities Director Brad Johnson, as well as spokesman Casey Pearson were at the scene by 5 p.m. as well.
Neither Myers, nor Gates immediately knew the condition of the students taken to area hospitals.
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