Collision with school bus

Big Lake Fire Chief Bill Gamble would like to remind MAT-SU residents to pay extra attention to school buses when driving.

"It's school time. School buses are on the roads again. They tend to start and stop. Children are crossing the roads. Please watch for flashing lights and drive safely," Gamble said.

Yesterday, Sept. 9, emergency personnel responded to a vehicle accident involving an SUV and a school bus. Of the 22 children on board the bus, no one was injured, including the school bus driver. The accident happened during the bus ride home from Big Lake Elementary at 4:15 p.m. at mile 2 Big Lake Road between the intersections of Maplewood Drive and Lucille Creek Drive.

 A Toyota 4Runner rear-ended the stopped bus and wound up pinned under the bus. Heavy lift air bags were used to lift the bus, so emergency responders could do their work. A male passenger in the SUV has critical injuries. The female driver of the SUV has minor injuries. Alaska State Troopers are investigation the cause of the crash.

Photos by Richard Boothby, MSB