No injuries in bus accident

PONDERAY — No one was injured after a school bus with a handful of students and an aide ended up in a ditch along McNearney Road Friday morning, Lake Pend Oreille School District officials said.

"All four of the students riding the bus were safe, and a bus aide was aboard to help the children exit out the back of the vehicle," Kristin Hawkins, LPOSD public information officer, said.

Hawkins said the bus driver was driving slowly along McNearney Road when she moved over for another vehicle. In doing so, the right front tire of the bus slipped, pulling the bus into the ditch. 

After the aide assisted the students from the bus, James Koehler, LPOSD director of transportation, brought another bus for the students and they continued on to school.

Despite ending up in the ditch, there was no damage to the bus, Hawkins said.

Hawkins, whose son was on the bus, praised the bus driver for her actions and the care she took of the students.

"As a parent of one of the riders, I really appreciated our bus driver's response," Hawkins said.

The driver personally called parents to let them know what had happened and to assure them that their children were OK. She called back after the students arrived at school with an update on how everyone was doing and what was going on.

"She is so caring in her approach with the kids on her bus each day, and her effort to keep parents informed in a timely manner today is an example of her professionalism," Hawkins said.