2 injured in bus wreck

Sikeston Department of Public Safety officers and Sikeston Public School officials discuss a bus accident that occured Wednesday morning at the corner of Maple and Greer Streets. (David Jenkins photo)

SIKESTON -- Two children were reportedly injured after a truck ran into a Sikeston R-6 school bus early Wednesday.

About 7:30 a.m. the department received a call that a pickup truck crashed into a Sikeston R-6 School District bus at the intersection of Greer and Maple Streets in Sikeston, according to Capt. Jim McMillen, public information officer with Sikeston DPS.

Upon the officers' arrival, it was reported two children ages 7 and 9 were complaining of injury. EMS was contacted as a precaution and evaluated the children's complaints.

Witnesses said the school bus driver had just loaded some children onto the bus when the driver saw the vehicle traveling north on Maple. According to the bus driver, it didn't appear the vehicle was going to stop at the stop sign so the bus driver sat in place as the vehicle struck the side of the bus just below the bus driver's window.

"Police commended the bus driver for recognizing the threat and not moving forward," McMillen said. "By doing so this kept the vehicle's impact away from the passenger area of the bus, helping reduce the likelihood of injury to the children."

School administrators arrived on scene to check the wellbeing of the students and helped transfer them to another school bus, McMillen said. The driver of the truck reportedly did not see the bus and was issued a citation for running the stop sign.