A school bus carrying 14 middle school students drove directly into the path of an oncoming semi truck, causing a collision that sent multiple people to the hospital early Monday morning.
The incident happened at the intersection of M-115 and Cedar Road, in Freeman Township, Michigan.
Clare County police say the school bus, driven by 54-year-old John Gretcka, was stopped at Cedar Road and attempted to turn onto south M-115, directly in front of the semi truck. The truck immediately swerved, but was unable to avoid the collision.
Gretcka told officers that he did not see the semi truck.
“Deputies determined that visibility, due to the early morning snow storm played a factor in the crash,” Clare County Undersheriff Dwayne Miedzianowski added.
The truck driver and 2 students on the bus were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
The truck driver was praised by local officials for preventing a direct collision, which could have caused much more serious injuries.
“Thank Heaven he did what he did and really avoided a catastrophic situation for the kids,” said Farwell school’s superintendent, Carl Seiter.