Bus involved in accident
Published 1:11 pm Monday, March 12, 2012
Public Safety Director Tom Atkinson reports that the Dowagiac Police Department investigated a minor personal-injury accident that involved a Dowagiac Union Schools bus Monday about 5:45 a.m.
Atkinson said the school bus, empty with the exception of the driver, was traveling north on North Front Street, approaching Prairie Ronde.
An eastbound pickup truck on West Prairie Ronde was approaching North Front.
East and westbound traffic at that intersection faces a flashing red light. North and southbound traffic faces a flashing yellow light at that time of the morning.
The pickup truck failed to stop for the flashing red light and drove into the intersection into the path of the school bus.
The school bus struck the pickup truck, pushing it into the pedestrian cross-walk sign on the northeast corner of the intersection.
Pride Care Ambulance was summoned to the scene and treated both drivers for minor injuries.
Both drivers refused transport to the hospital after being treated by ambulance personnel.
Both vehicles were heavily damaged, unable to be driven from the scene and were towed.
The driver of the pickup truck, a 46-year-old Dowagiac man, was cited for disregarding a flashing red light.
Dowagiac Union Schools was notified and another bus was called out to continue the route so no one was late for school.