GRAHAM, Wash. — One person has died following a crash involving a school bus in Graham on Thursday evening.
According to the Washington State Patrol (WSP), the crash on SR 161 near Frontier Park involved a car and a school bus.
The driver of the car was initially reported to be in critical condition, but has since died from their injuries, WSP said.
A 14-year-old on the school bus was taken to a nearby hospital with minor injuries, according to WSP.
No one else was injured.
According to WSP, there were at least 35 kids on the bus.
Trooper Kameron Watts told KIRO 7 that the bus was from the Eatonville School District.
Hundreds were gathered at Frontier Park for a night market.
“It was devastating,” Cindus Al-Mansour, the market organizer, said.
One vendor told KIRO 7 she sold dog treats to the driver of the pickup truck just minutes before he was killed.
“You just hear, all of a sudden, a boom,” Kathy, who asked that we not publish her last name, said. “It’s just sad because we’ve been coming up here for two years, and he’s been buying from us for two years.”
Al-Mansour told KIRO 7 that people at the market rushed to try to help the man, but it was too late.
“Our community stopped what they were doing and went out to help,” she said. “We had people doing CPR, food trucks all donated to the thirty children who were in the bus.”
Both directions of SR 161 near Eustis Hunt Road were closed for an extended period of time.
In a statement to parents, the district said:
<i>“Dear Eatonville School District Families and Community,</i>
<i>We want to inform our community about a serious traffic accident involving an Eatonville School District bus that occurred this afternoon on State Route 161 near Eustis Hunt Road.</i>
<i>The bus was transporting Eatonville Middle School eighth grade students back to Eatonville following their field trip.. At the time of the collision, approximately 40 students were aboard the bus. One Eatonville Middle School student sustained injuries and was transported for medical evaluation and treatment. The student’s family was notified immediately. No other students or staff required transportation for medical care. District staff responded immediately and worked closely with emergency responders to ensure the safety and care of all students.</i>
<i>Following the incident, all students involved have safely been reunited with their families.</i>
<i>We recognize that incidents such as this can be unsettling for students, families, and staff. Counseling support will be available on site tomorrow for any students who may need assistance processing this event. We encourage families to reach out if they believe their child may benefit from additional support.</i>
<i>We would like to express our sincere appreciation to the first responders, law enforcement officers, fire and rescue personnel, emergency medical teams, and district staff who responded quickly and professionally to ensure the safety and well-being of everyone involved.</i>
<i>The accident remains under investigation by the appropriate authorities. Out of respect for those involved and the ongoing investigation, the district will not be releasing additional details at this time.</i>
<i>Thank you for your support and understanding. The safety and well-being of our students and staff remain our highest priority."</i>
— Eatonville School District
It’s unclear what caused the crash.
WSP said its Major Accident Investigative Team was called in to figure out exactly how the crash happened.