San Joaquin County, CA (March 18, 2025) – A 17-year-old girl and three students were injured Tuesday morning when a pickup truck crashed into the back of a stopped school bus on West Ripon Road near Alice Road.
Incident Details: According to the California Highway Patrol, the crash occurred around 7:17 a.m. as the school bus, affiliated with the Ripon Unified School District, had stopped to pick up students. The bus had its flashing red lights activated and the stop sign deployed when the pickup truck, traveling at 55 mph, failed to stop and rear-ended the bus.
The bus was carrying 34 students at the time. Three of them sustained minor injuries but were not hospitalized. The teenage driver of the pickup truck suffered major but non-life-threatening injuries and was transported to the hospital.
Investigation and Legal Considerations: Investigators will likely examine whether driver distraction, inexperience, or speeding contributed to the crash. In cases involving injuries, victims and their families may have grounds for a personal injury claim to recover medical expenses and other damages. Additionally, authorities may assess whether additional safety measures, such as enhanced warning systems, could prevent similar incidents in the future.
I hope for a full recovery for the injured students and driver.
Source: KCRA