Problems with the brakes may have caused a Tulsa school bus accident

A Tulsa Public Schools bus wreck Friday morning leaves several students with slight injuries. It might have been a case of the driver intentionally ramming a light pole. <br/><br/>News on 6 reporter

Friday, November 12th 2004, 10:28 am

By: News On 6

A Tulsa Public Schools bus wreck Friday morning leaves several students with slight injuries. It might have been a case of the driver intentionally ramming a light pole.

News on 6 reporter Emory Bryan says the bus driver told Tulsa Police her brakes went out on a hill and she turned into a parking lot hoping to slow the bus down.

It happened Friday morning as students were on the way to school at Academy Central. The bus picked up speed down a hill, near Edison and Gilcrease Museum Road. Something went wrong with the brakes - and the driver rammed the bus into a light pole. It knocked over the light pole, but stopped the bus.

4th grader Robert Johnson: "We were coming to pick up the other kids but the brakes went out, but we tried to stop and we stopped when we hit that."

Tulsa Police officer Jesse Guardiola: "bus is coming south on Gilcrease Museum she thinks she hears a pop in the engine area, she says she lost control of the bus because she didn't have any brakes and she was coming down the hill."

The driver was a substitute learning the route - and the regular driver was on board. The driver and two students were taken to a hospital with minor injuries.

The school bus is being examined by the manufacturer to see what happened and Tulsa Public Schools and the Tulsa Police will look into the actions of the driver.