Truck vs. School Bus Sends 10 to the Hospital (UPDATE)

A frightening beginning for the school day in Gaston

Photo by Oregon State Police

(GASTON, Ore.) - A school bus was involved in a multi-injury traffic crash this morning when it was hit by a truck's empty trailer.

Gaston School District confirmed ten bus occupants received minor injuries in the accident that took place about 7:40 p.m.

The bus driver and nine students (two high school students and 7 elementary age students) were transported to a Hillsboro-area hospital were reportedly treated and released for minor injuries.

The Gaston School District school bus driven by 43-year old Sharon Bregante-Candau, from Gaston, with K - 12 aged students was stopped southbound on Highway 47 near milepost 30, its regular morning bus route, with warning lights activated while a student boarded the bus.

At that moment, a northbound 1997 Kenworth truck pulling two empty trailers driven by 57-year old George W. Clarno Jr, from McMinnville, traveled through a curve, saw the stopped school bus and braked to stop. The rear trailer slid around partially into a ditch before coming back onto the highway where it collided with the front of the bus.

Two of the students were taken to Tuality Community Hospital in Hillsboro in a private vehicle. Bregante-Candau and seven students were transported by ambulance.

Clarno was not injured. He was cited for Careless Driving by Oregon State Police (OSP) following the investigation conducted by OSP troopers from the McMinnville Area Command office.

Both drivers were using safety restraints.

Yamhill County Sheriff's Office, McMinnville Police Department, Gaston Rural Fire District, Yamhill Fire Protection District, ODOT Motor Carrier section, and ODOT highway maintenance personnel assisted at the scene. ODOT had a detour in place during the over 5 hour highway closure.