MANISTIQUE, Mich. (WZMQ) – Officials say no Manistique Area Schools students were harmed in a bus crash on Wednesday morning.
According to a press release from Superintendent Matt Lukshaitis, one of the district’s school bus drivers went off the road, slid into a low ditch, and continued into the trees. The bus remained upright but struck tree limbs and sustained “a fair amount” of damage.
The driver moved the students to the back of the bus and checked for injuries. A second school bus arrived shortly after the crash, and the drivers helped the students exit the bus.
Michigan State Police responded to the crash and took a report from the driver. The Manistique Middle and High School principal also arrived on the scene to ensure the safety of the students. State Police confirmed that no students appeared to be injured.
“As a parent of five children who all rode the bus to and from school and to events and back, I can state any news like this is alarming,” Lukshaitis wrote in the press release. “I am thankful our kids are safe. I believe we have to investigate and possibly change some of our response procedures, but I also believe our school buses are safe… They are in good structural and mechanical condition… I believe our school bus drivers, all professionally trained and medically certified through the Department of Transportation, are caring adults who want safe and timely transportation for all of our Manistique students.”
Manistique Area Schools plans to review evidence, examine reports, and conduct interviews related to the crash.
