Driver trapped under bus for 50 minutes

HOOD RIVER, Ore. — A Hood River County School District bus driver was trapped for 50 minutes beneath her bus on Tuesday afternoon after it slid sideways while she was inspecting a possible broken tire chain, police said.

Meridith Cole was transporting students on a highway when she pulled the bus onto the shoulder to check the chain. While she was outside, the bus slid, trapping her face down in the snow underneath the door.

The Hood River County Sheriff's Office, Odell Fire Department and Oregon State Police troopers responded to the scene. With the assistance of a tow truck traveling through the area on another call, emergency personnel raised the bus off Cole and removed her.

Cole was initially transported by ambulance to a local hospital. She was later transferred to a medical center in Portland, Ore., where she was in fair condition Wednesday morning.

According to the Hood River County School District, the four children on Cole's bus were picked up from the scene and taken to the district's Mid Valley Elementary School, where their parents were contacted. They were not injured.