Imperial, Neb. — Multiple injuries were reported in a semi truck-school bus crash Tuesday afternoon in Chase County on Spur 15 Highway between Champion and Imperial. A Chase County Sheriff’s Office media release says the Sheriff’s Office received a call around 3:57 p.m. regarding a school bus rollover accident involving a semi-tractor trailer on state highway 15 A and 736 road southwest of Imperial near Champion.
The school bus had been in the process of dropping children off after school and carried 12 students on board, ranging in ages from 5 to 15 years old.
All passengers and drivers were transported to the Chase County hospital with a wide range of injuries. 3 children were later transported to regional trauma centers.
The preliminary investigation indicated the school bus, owned by Chase County Schools, attempted to make a left hand turn when it collided with semi pulling a fully-loaded grain trailer.
The semi, owned by KAK Inc. of Champion, was traveling northbound on highway 15A. The semi impacted the rear passenger side of the school bus, causing the bus to rotate 90 degrees and overturn onto its driver’s side. After striking the bus, the semi continued north a short distance, before leaving the roadway, crossing the ditch, and coming to rest on the property located at 32815 15 A spur.
The school bus was operated by 39 year old Keith Cranwell of Champion. The semi was operated by 20 year old Chance Lotspeich of Venango.
Chase County Sheriff’s Deputies, the Imperial fire department, Imperial EMS and Emergency Management responded to the scene.
The Chase County Sheriff’s Office is still in the preliminary stage of the investigation and has requested the assistance of the Nebraska State Patrol to help with the inspection of both commercial vehicles and to reconstruct the accident.
