Rash of car-school bus crashes plague Cache County

A rash of car-school bus collisions this week prompted the Cache County Sheriff's Department on Friday to issue an alert to drivers to remember right-of-way rules involving school transports on rural roads.

Sheriff's Lt. Mike Peterson said there were three collisions late Thursday afternoon where motorists failed to yield to Cache County School District buses. No injuries were reported, but deputies issued citations in all three accidents.

In Paradise, a driver failed to yield the right of way and struck a bus with 14 children on board; another driver failed to yield in Newton, striking a special needs bus with two children aboard; and in Millville, a car ran a stop sign and was T-boned by an empty bus.

"[We] would like to remind drivers to slow down, especially during times when the school buses are dropping off or picking up students at bus stops," Peterson said.

He said drivers should always be aware of children playing or gathering near bus stops on school days; watch for yellow, flashing lights that indicate a bus is preparing to stop, load or unload children; and be alert to red, flashing lights and extended stop sign arms on buses that warn the buses have stopped to let children off.

Motorists are required by state law to stop and wait when the right lights are activated and cannot proceed until the stop arms are withdrawn, the red lights stop flashing and the bus begins to move again, Peterson said.

remims@sltrib.com

Twitter: @remims