Colcord Students Injured In School Bus Crash

A school bus crash west of West Siloam Springs on U.S. 412 has sent eight people, including several students, to Arkansas hospitals.

Thursday, March 26th 2009, 2:14 pm

By: News On 6

Colcord Students Injured In School Bus Crash

NewsOn6.com

WEST SILOAM SPRINGS, OK -- A school bus crash on U.S. 412 in Delaware County sent eight people, including several students, to Arkansas hospitals Thursday.

The collision happened about 7:45 a.m. at Flint Ridge about five miles west of West Siloam Springs, according to an Oklahoma Highway Patrol accident report.

A Colcord school bus was traveling south on a county road attempting to cross U.S. 412 when the driver failed to yield at a stop sign and was hit by an eastbound SUV, troopers say.

The bus driver, 71-year-old Billy Earp, a high school student and the driver of the SUV were taken to a hospital in Siloam Springs, Ark. They were treated and released.

Four elementary students who were taken to hospitals by private vehicles were also treated and released.

An 8-year-old passenger in the SUV was sent to a Fayetteville, Ark., hospital in good condition. He will be held overnight for observation.

The bus was carrying 18 students between the ages of 8 and 19 and was en route to pick up more.

Superintendent J.D. Parkerson says Colcord will run normal bus routes Friday and another driver will fill in for Earp while he recovers.

The district is not planning any disciplinary action against Earp but will investigate the accident, Parkerson says.