3 Hurt When Bus Hits Logging Truck

Sat., Dec. 13, 1997

Associated Press

Three people were injured Friday morning when a logging truck collided with a school bus north of Omak on U.S. 97, the Washington State Patrol said.

One pupil and the Paschal Sherman Indian School bus driver were treated at Mid Valley Hospital in Omak, patrol communications officer Dave Kastel said. The truck driver did not require treatment.

State Patrol Sgt. Mike Saunders in Okanogan said just one child was on the bus.

Bus driver Rhonda Olsen of Omak was the most seriously injured, with fractured ribs, a collapsed lung and neck and back pain, Saunders said. The log truck driver, Bennie Schoenwald of Colville, suffered neck and back pain, he said.

Saunders said both vehicles were northbound on U.S. 97, and the school bus had pulled off on the right shoulder of the road. As the log truck approached, the bus apparently pulled back into the lane and the vehicles collided, he said.

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