ORONDO — A motorist was killed and five students and others were injured in a crash Thursday in central Washington involving a school bus, truck and car.
Two people in the box truck were seriously hurt, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Most injuries to the students and driver of the Orondo School District bus were minor, but one student may have a serious injury, Trooper Darren Wright said.
The injured people were taken to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee, about 20 miles south of the accident scene.
All 43 students on the bus were taken to the hospital to be checked out, even those without obvious injuries, said Douglas County Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal.
The roadway was clear and dry at the time of the crash, which happened just before 8:11 a.m. on Highway 97, about five miles north of Orondo. Weather conditions at the time were sunny and clear. No further details on the crash were immediately available.
Orondo is a small community with a gas station, post office and one school, a combination elementary-middle school with about 160 students.
Gjesdal said it was the worst accident in his 30-year career in law enforcement.
“Anything involving a school bus causes great concern — sad, sad.” he said,
