Random Lake school bus rollover crash, 8 students injured
TOWN OF FREDONIA, Wis. - A school bus was involved in an crash in the Town of Fredonia, Ozaukee County, on Monday morning, Sept. 16.
According to the Ozaukee County Sheriff's Office, at about 7:23 am, the sheriff’s office responded to a two-vehicle crash on County Highway E and Jay Road in the Town of Fredonia for a bus that was struck and rolled over.
The scene at County Highway E and Jay Road
Deputies found a 2018 black Jeep Grand Cherokee with significant front-end damage in the roadway and a 2021 school bus resting on its passenger side in the west ditch.
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Credit: Sheboygan Night Scanner
The initial investigation determined the Jeep was headed eastbound on Jay Road when it ran the stop sign at County Highway E.
The Jeep went through the intersection and struck the bus as it was traveling north on County Highway E. The bus spun 180 degrees, overturned onto its passenger side, and came to rest in the ditch facing south.
The bus was a Random Lake School District bus with 36 students on board, ranging from elementary school to high school age.
The school bus driver had minor injuries and was taken to a local hospital.
Two people were in the Jeep. They received minor injuries and were taken to a local hospital.
The driver was identified as 32-year-old Becka Stevenson.
The students on the bus were evacuated through the roof and rear emergency exits. Eight students were injured and taken by ambulance to local hospitals and Children’s Wisconsin. Their injuries ranged from minor to serious; however, none of the injuries were life-threatening.
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The students who were not injured were picked up by their parents at the scene of the crash. Some students were later brought to local hospitals by their parents as a precautionary measure.
"That is a problematic intersection in our county," Ozaukee County Sheriff Christy Knowles said. "So we had different and previous crashes at that intersection. During that time of day, yes the sun is an issue."
Credit: Sheboygan Night Scanner
A citation for failure to yield at a stop sign will be issued to the driver of the Jeep and an additional investigation is pending.
"Having all of those kids on that bus like how are they going to feel safe now being on a bus and just making sure they’re all safe," said Pamela Scheel, who heard the crash. "That’s all we want is our kids to be safe."
The Ozaukee County Sheriff’s Office would like to remind drivers that it is their responsibility to "be aware of the road and weather conditions, their surroundings, and make sure their attention is directed to operating safely."