School bus, van collide; no injuries

TONY BROWN/DAILY FORUM
Maryville R-II Superintendent of Schools Becky Albrecht, second from right, examines a school bus that was slightly damaged Thursday morning in a rear-end collision on Route V near the South Main intersection. Five high school students were aboard at the time of the wreck. All escaped injury.

There were no injuries and only a slight amount of damage Thursday morning in a minor rear-end collision involving a Maryville R-II School District bus owned by Jarnik Buses Inc. that was carrying five Maryville High School students.

The mishap, which also involved a Dodge van, occurred at 7:42 a.m. near the intersection of South Main Street and Route V.

A Maryville Public Safety officer on the scene said the accident happened as the southbound van and bus turned right onto the westbound lane of Route V.

The van apparently slowed, and the bus driver was unable to stop before striking the vehicle from the rear at low speed. Bright sunlight may have been a factor, the officer said.

R-II Superintendent Becky Albrecht arrived at the wreck site minutes after the accident occurred along with a second school bus that transported the students to the high school without further incident.

Albrecht said she planned to personally telephone the parents of all five students in order to inform them about the incident.

The bus sustained superficial body damage, including a broken headlight. The van had a few scratches and a broken taillight.

Maryville Public Safety identified the bus driver as Kevin Stuart and the driver of the van as Molly Graham of Pickering.