Students Injured When Pickup Truck Strikes School Bus
The Colorado State Patrol says the truck driver fell asleep and drifted into the opposing lane and hit the bus, which rolled.
WELD COUNTY, Colo. — A pickup truck crashed into a school bus here on Thursday, causing the bus to roll and injuring most of the passengers, police said.
According to the Colorado State Patrol, the 2015 Ford truck was headed southbound on a county road when it drifted into a northbound lane and struck the 2016 school bus, which rolled one and a quarter times, ending up on its side. The crash occurred around 4 p.m.
Colorado State Patrol Trooper Gary Cutler told local news sources that the pickup truck driver, identified as 36-year-old William Carroll, fell asleep at the wheel. Carroll, who reportedly was not injured, was cited for careless driving.
The bus was returning from a field trip with students in Greeley-Evans School District 6’s Student Recovery Program, which helps at-risk youth catch up on credits. There were about 35 students and adults on the bus.
The Greeley Tribune reported that all but one of the school bus occupants were hurt in the crash, although the Colorado State Patrol had said on Twitter that about 20 of the bus occupants were transported with minor to serious injuries. School district spokeswoman Theresa Myers told The Greeley Tribune that the injuries ranged from bumps and bruises to back breaks and neck fractures.
Greeley-Evans Superintendent Deirdre Pilch said in a statement on Friday that the students and staff who were injured were taken to various hospitals in the area.
“Most were treated last night and released; others were kept overnight for observation,” Pilch said. “I am happy to report that at this time there does not appear to be any life-threatening injuries.”
More Safety

How to Build a Better School Bus Driver Training Program
Is it time to strengthen your driver training? Here’s how to pick the right talent and improve recruitment, retention, and safety. This video is brought to you by IC Bus.
Read More →
Recent School Bus Accidents Leave 2 Dead, 2 Injured
Four school bus crashes in Florida, Illinois, and Georgia highlight risks in transportation lots, at bus stops, and during student loading and unloading.
Read More →
When Every Second Matters, Clarity Keeps Routes Moving
From routine delays to urgent incidents, strong communication practices help drivers, dispatchers, schools, and families respond with confidence.
Read More →
What Happens When a School Bus Catches Fire — and What Can Help
School bus fires are rare but can be devastating. Learn how advances in fire suppression and asset protection help fleets detect fires earlier, reduce damage, and improve safety.
Read More →
Geotab Launches Tool to Help Fleets Investigate Road Incidents
Geotab Investigations combines telematics data, video, documents, and other evidence to help fleets reconstruct incidents, resolve claims, and determine what happened.
Read More →
Texas Sixth Grader Wins 2026 National School Bus Safety Poster Contest
Sai Darshana Yekolu of Moseley Middle School in Prosper, Texas, was named the newest winner for her artwork, bringing the theme of “Safe Rides, Everyday Heroes” to life.
Read More →
Doing More With Less: How Transportation Directors Can Prioritize Safety Amid Budget Uncertainty
With diesel prices soaring and nearly one-third of transportation directors expecting budget cuts, maintaining student safety has never been more challenging. Download this guide to learn how leading districts are prioritizing risk, funding critical safety technology, and building stronger budget cases with data.
Read More →
Walton County Schools Adds Gatekeeper Stop-Arm Enforcement System
The Florida district will deploy Gatekeeper’s updated Student Protector technology, which now incorporates AI to improve video evidence.
Read More →
How To Build a More Secure School Bus Yard During and After Hours
As thefts and overnight security threats continue, school transportation leaders are combining stronger operational practices with AI-enabled surveillance to better protect buses, facilities, and staff.
Read More →
FMCSA Names New Chief Safety Officer: What School Bus Operators Should Know
Steve Dowling is set to lead the federal agency's efforts to advance commercial motor vehicle safety and reduce crashes, fatalities, and injuries on the nation's roadways.
Read More →

