A school bus carrying 34 students was involved in a collision Tuesday morning after being rear-ended by a pickup truck in a rural area south of Manteca, the California Highway Patrol (CHP) reported.
The incident occurred at 7:17 a.m. on West Ripon Road, east of Kinkaid Road. A Ford Ranger pickup truck, driven by a 17-year-old girl whose name has not been released, struck the back of the bus. Authorities stated that the bus had its red lights flashing and stop sign extended as it prepared to pick up students.
The CHP reported that three students sustained minor injuries in the crash, none requiring hospitalization. The teenage driver of the pickup truck, however, sustained more serious injuries, although they were not considered life-threatening.
Following the accident, CHP officials took to social media to reinforce a crucial safety message. “Stop for school buses when their red lights are flashing — it’s the law!” the post emphasized. “Stay alert and avoid distractions — children’s lives are at stake.”
