Child recalls van, school bus colliding on I-5

Scary moments for a bus full of kids when the bus they were on was repeatedly rammed on I-5 in downtown Seattle on Friday.

From Chopper 7, you see the white van right next to the school bus.

“I was sitting kind of in the middle,” said Luke Stanley.

Stanley, 8, was on the bus with about 60 second-graders and their teachers from Renton Christian School. They were headed to the Pacific Science Center on a field trip when the accident happened on Northbound I-5 near Seneca Street Friday morning.

“They were wondering what was the first bump. do we have a flat tire?” recounted Luke.

Washington State Patrol Trooper Rick Johnson said the van may have rear-ended the bus accidentally, but then kept trying to push it forward. Johnson said the van also backed into a sergeant's patrol car before ramming the school bus again. At that point, the sergeant drew his weapon and took the driver into custody.

“I actually didn't think it was that scary,” Luke said,

“Yeah, he was fine but it was scary as a parent just to know your kid was on an accident on the freeway,” said Luke’s mom, Deanna Stanley.

Deanna was already at the Science Center with a group of other parents.

Though they knew none of the kids were hurt, they didn't calm down until watching a Facebook livestream of the accident.

“We were watching it and it was comforting once we saw the picture of the van next to the bus and could see how much damage there was,” explained Deanna.

But it would be another two and a half hours before she and Luke would be reunited because the replacement bus was sitting in traffic.

Luke said other kids were upset and crying.

Troopers ended up giving the kids "Junior Trooper" stickers.

”I’m really appreciative for the police officers,” Deanna said. “The kids all got Junior Trooper stickers. So it's nice to know they were interacting with them and probably calming them down some, too.”

The 48-year-old driver of the van is now facing charges of assault, DUI and possession of felony drugs.

The passenger in the van tried to run away, but police tracked him down.

More news from KIRO 7

• PHOTOS: Ted Bundy evidence photos [GRAPHIC CONTENT WARNING]
• Several fights as UW Republicans hold 'freedom rally', met by protesters
• Man killed in apparent road rage shooting
• Outback server stiffed by church on $735 order loses job over Facebook post 
• Police: Man texts 'LOL' to group text as woman dies from overdose 

DOWNLOAD OUR FREE NEWS APP

Cox Media Group