Published: February 28, 2008 10:24 pm         

RISD buses involved in Tuesday morning traffic accidents

On the morning of Feb. 26, two Rockwall Independent School District buses were involved in unrelated traffic incidents.

The first incident occurred on Highway 276 at Rochell Road. According to preliminary reports, the driver of the bus quickly reacted in order to avoid a potential head-on collision with an oncoming vehicle that was travelling in the wrong lane.

Eyewitness reports indicate that the bus driver was able to veer into a roadside ditch in order to remove the bus from the direct line of the oncoming vehicle. The front of the bus did sustain damage.

At the time of the incident, five students were on the bus as well as one adult bus monitor and the driver. All students were secured with seatbelts.

As a precautionary measure, all students were transported to Presbyterian Hospital where they were examined and later released. The driver and the bus monitor were not injured. Upon learning of the incident, additional RISD personnel were dispatched to the scene and all parents were notified.

In a completely unrelated incident, a school bus transporting 17 students was involved in a rear-end collision near the intersection of Horizon and County Line Roads. Initial reports indicate that the driver of the bus was unable to come to a complete stop when the traffic in front of him halted.

Two motorists were also involved in the chain reaction collision, neither of whom was injured.

Of the 16 elementary students and one middle school student involved, five were taken to Presbyterian Hospital and examined as a precautionary measure. RISD personnel were dispatched to the scene and attempts were made to notify all parents.