A Stanislaus school bus had its lights on and stop sign out when a big rig collided with it

“FOCUS…FOCUS…FOCUS,” read a California Highway Patrol Instagram post describing a collision that involved a school bus on Crows Landing Road on Tuesday morning.

CHP’s Modesto Office received the collision call at about 6:50 a.m. and responded to Crows Landing Road, north of El Katrina Lane. That stretch of the road is among farmland about nine miles west of Turlock.

A driver of a Honda sedan was stopped behind the school bus, full of elementary-aged children, because the bus had its flashing red lights on and its stop sign out, according to CHP.

The driver of a big rig did not see the bus or the stopped vehicle and struck the rear of the sedan, then collided with the left rear of the school bus.

All 17 of the students on board suffered minor injuries. None of them were required to be transported from the scene for further medical aid. The driver of the big rig and the driver of the Honda were transported to a local hospital with minor injuries.

“The California Highway Patrol would like to remind all motorists to be aware of their surroundings at all times,” read CHP Modesto’s post. “Eliminate all distractions that may contribute to a lapse of being focused on the road. Drive to arrive.”

More than one school bus incident

The collision on Tuesday was the second recent incident in Stanislaus County that put children on a school bus at risk of injury.

In an unrelated call on Monday afternoon, CHP Modesto was dispatched to a school bus that was on fire at about 4:37 p.m. on Shiloh Road, north of Grayson Road. The area is among farmland about 12 miles southwest of downtown Modesto.

The driver of the bus smelled what they believed was an electrical fire while transporting 10 elementary-aged children. The driver “swiftly and decisively” removed the children from the bus and to safety, according to CHP.

None of the children were injured and all of the students returned home.

“The California Highway Patrol would like to recognize the driver’s quick actions preventing what could have been a much worse outcome,” read a CHP’s post.

Photos from the scene show burn damage to the bus’ engine compartment and to much of the back end of the vehicle. Firefighters from the Westport Fire Protection District extinguished the flames.

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