Blackfoot school bus totaled after crash with semi, no students on board
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BLACKFOOT — Police cited both drivers following a collision between a semi-truck and a school bus Wednesday morning in Blackfoot that totaled the bus, damaged the semi and disrupted traffic for about three hours.
Fortunately, no students were on the bus, and neither driver was injured.
According to a Blackfoot Police Department news release, the crash occurred at about 6:50 a.m. at the intersection of U.S. Highway 26 and Idaho Highway 39, near the Pony Express Car Wash and Sinclair gas station.
The collision involved a Basic American Foods semitruck and a school bus owned by Miles Bus Company, a private transportation contractor serving Blackfoot School District #55.
Police say their preliminary investigation indicates the school bus was stopped in the intersection, preparing to turn left from US-26 onto ID-39, when the traffic light turned red.
The eastbound semi-truck failed to stop at the red light and struck the bus.
Police cited both drivers for failing to obey a traffic control device.
Both vehicles sustained damage and were towed from the scene. Traffic in the area was affected for approximately three hours while crews worked to clear the roadway.
Blackfoot School District Superintendent Brian Kress told EastIdahoNews.com that he received a call about the accident around 7 a.m.
“The bus was on its way to a school in Springfield,” Kress said. “We are so grateful there were no students on board. The bus driver is okay but a little rattled.”
Kress said the collision was serious enough to total the school bus.
“The bus took the brunt of the accident,” Kress said. “This is a big reminder to everyone to be more careful out there.”
The Blackfoot School District also acknowledged the accident in a social media post Wednesday morning, reassuring the community that no students were on board.
The Blackfoot Police Department said the crash remains under investigation and thanked the Bingham County Sheriff’s Office for its assistance at the scene.