Updated September 16, 2024, after another serious school bus accident occurred in Fredonia, WI. A school bus crash near Hibbing, Minnesota, sent multiple students to the hospital Thursday morning. Northern News Now reports that a rollover crash happened at the intersection of Town Line Road and Highway 5 when a car T-boned a St. Louis County School District bus with at least 20 students from Cherry School on board. The St. Louis County Sheriff says officials consider the crash a “mass casualty” situation. Twelve kids and the bus driver, 52-year-old Shawn Lindula, were transported to local hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. The car’s driver, 19-year-old Svea Snickers, was airlifted to the hospital with serious injuries. The Hibbing school bus crash is under investigation by the Minnesota State Patrol.
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School Bus Crashes Raises Safety Concerns in Minnesota and Wisconsin
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), children are 8 times safer on the school bus than riding in a car with their parents or guardians. However, crashes like this one show that there’s still work that needs to be done to keep kids safe.
From 2016 to 2020, 225 students were injured in 2,800 school bus crashes in Minnesota. Transportation officials and school districts need to work together to make changes that will help keep students safe on their way to school.
The Hibbing intersection where this crash happened has had safety problems before. In 2015, another T-bone crash at the same spot sent two people to the hospital, including a student. Parents in the St. Louis County School District call for improvements to make the intersection safer. Carrie Tracy, a parent of a Cherry Elementary student, told Northern News Now, “It’s a straight stretch on 16 so people fly, and by the time you’ve seen the stop sign, it’s too late.”
Wisconsin School Bus Crash Injures 8 Students
On Monday, September 16, 2024, a serious school bus accident occurred in Fredonia, Wisconsin, injuring eight students. The incident happened around 7:23 a.m. when a Jeep Grand Cherokee, driven by 32-year-old Becka Stevenson, failed to stop at a stop sign on County Trunk Highway E and collided with a school bus from the Random Lake School District that was carrying 36 students. The impact of the crash caused the bus to spin 180 degrees and overturn onto its side in a ditch.
Emergency responders evacuated the injured students through the bus’s roof and rear exits. They were taken to local hospitals, including Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin, with injuries ranging from minor to serious. The bus driver, Mark Hall, 53, also sustained minor injuries and was treated at a local hospital.
Both Stevenson and her passenger, Luis Vargas, aged 33, were transported to the hospital for minor injuries as well. The Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office plans to issue a citation to Stevenson for failing to yield at the stop sign. An ongoing investigation into the crash is still in progress. The Random Lake School District has reached out to affected families and is providing support through school counselors.
Can I Sue If My Child Was Injured in a School Bus Accident?
Yes. If your child was injured in a school bus accident, you may be able to sue for justice and compensation if there is sufficient evidence to support your case.
At Pritzker Hageman, our experienced team of bus crash lawyers will investigate the circumstances of the accident, gather evidence, and identify all responsible parties. Whether the accident was caused by careless driving, faulty equipment, or other factors, our legal team will work tirelessly to build a strong case on your behalf and secure the compensation you deserve.
Contact Us
We understand the emotional toll this can have on families, and we are committed to providing compassionate guidance throughout the legal process.
If you’d like to talk to an attorney about your case, please contact our office by calling 612-338-0202, sending a text to 612-261-0856, or filling out a contact form online. We offer comprehensive consultations at no cost to explore your legal options. Our lawyers are licensed in Minnesota and Wisconsin.
Our goal is to ensure justice is served for your family while also working to prevent similar tragedies in the future. We stand ready to support your family every step of the way.