Pickup hits school bus

Frontiersman staff

WASILLA - A pickup hit a school bus, with no children on board, about 1:30 p.m. today on the Palmer-Wasilla Highway near Hyer Road.

The driver of the bus, Star Theodore, was shaken but apparently not injured, said John Ace, safety manager of First Student bus company who was at the scene and had talked to Theodore.

The driver of the pickup was removed from the wreckage by emergency personnel using power tools and jaws of life equipment. The male driver was lifted onto a stretcher and taken to an ambulance. The extent of his injuries weren’t immediately released. Troopers were attempting interview him later in the day.

The pickup had crossed the center line of the highway, hitting the bus nearly head-on. Both vehicles collided at their left corners. No skid marks were on the highway behind the pickup, suggesting the driver was distracted at the time of the collision.

The collision caused both lanes to be closed for about 45 minutes, trooper spokeswoman Beth Ipsen said. The eastbound lane, she said, was opened about 2:15 p.m. and the westbound lane about 2:25.