2 Elk River School Buses Slide Into Ditch Friday Morning, A Third Bus in Minor Crash; No Injuries Reported

Two Elk River School District buses that pick up in St. Michael, Albertville, Otsego, Rogers and Zimmerman slipped off the icy road this morning into the ditch, and one bus was in a minor crash with a vehicle.

No injuries were reported, and backup buses were able to safely pickup students without a long delay. Buses were removed from the ditch in Rogers and Zimmerman, and the minor crash happened in Zimmerman.

"Our drivers did a great job for the conditions," said Jim O'Neill, manager of Vision Transportation, the company who owns and operates the buses. "Road crews were still working on sanding the roads, but the back roads hadn't been done yet."

The buses slipped on rural roads that are tricky this time of year, especially with many hills. One bus picking up in Rogers slid through an intersection, going into the ditch, according to O'Neill.

Another bus picking up on the border of Zimmerman and St. Francis slipped into the ditch when it was going down a sharp hill with a 90-degree turn at the bottom.

A third bus was hit by a car that couldn't stop in time in Zimmerman. The accident was minor with just a broken mirror as damage to the car.

"It's just that time of year that everyone needs to drive carefully around school buses," O'Neill said.

The company operates 70 buses in the area and said during these weather conditions, problems are typical on rural roads.

"In St. Michael and Albertville, the roads are relatively flat," O'Neill said. "There might have been minor delays, but that's it."

Don's Bus Service, which serves the St. Michael-Albertville School District, reported no major problems on the routes this morning.

Vision Transportation has no concerns about driving students this afternoon, as much of the ice has melted and roads have been salted and sprinkled with sand.

"They're on the road right, now, and there are no real concerns," O'Neill said.

How were the roads for you this morning? Tell us in the comments.