School Bus With 35 Kids Onboard Involved in Fatal Traffic Crash

Police aren't sure why the driver of a 2008 Honda Civic crossed the paved center median into the southbound lanes and crashed head-on with the school bus.

(SCAPPOOSE, Ore.) - One person died and four others were injured Wednesday afternoon in a crash involving a Scappoose School District School bus and a passenger car on Highway 30 about three miles north of Scappoose.

Police say the four injured people included the school bus driver and three Warren Elementary School students.

Wednesday at approximately 2:29 PM, police received a report of a serious crash on Highway 30 near milepost 24 between Tarbell Road and Pollard Road north of Scappoose. State, county, and city police and fire agencies responded to the scene.

Police investigators say preliminary investigation indicates that the crash happened as a Scappoose School District school bus driven by 45-year old Garland L. Spooner of Scappoose, was transporting approximately 35 students from Warren Elementary School southbound on Highway 30 in the right hand lane.

According to witnesses, a northbound 2008 Honda Civic driven by 62-year old Luis A. Tellado of Scapoose, crossed the paved center median into the southbound lanes and crashed head-on with the school bus. The Honda came to rest on the southbound shoulder at a driveway entrance. The school bus came to rest across both northbound lanes.

Police say Luis Tellado was pronounced deceased at the scene. He was using safety restraints.

Spooner received minor injuries. Information at this time indicates she and two students were transported from the scene by ground ambulance to Legacy Emanuel Hospital for treatment of non-life threatening injuries.

The two students were identified as 7-year old Olivia Bowers and 9-year old Kaitlin Bond. A third student, 9-year old Ranay Laird, was transported by family members to an unknown hospital with a minor injury.

Scappoose School District officials say the remaining students were transported back to Warren Elementary School where their parents were told they could pick their students up.

Questions for the school district should be directed to Mary Crum at (503) 543-6374.

Oregon State Police troopers from the St. Helens work site are continuing the investigation with two OSP crash reconstructionists.

The cause of the crash has not been determined. Highway 30 at the scene has two southbound lanes and two northbound lanes separated by a paved center continuous left turn lane.

Agencies assisting at the scene included Columbia County Sheriff's Office, Scappoose Police Department, Scappoose Fire Department, Columbia River Fire & Rescue, Columbia County Road Department, and ODOT.

A detour was established around the scene and will remain in effect until the highway is re-opened.

Highway 30 was estimated to be re-opened by 7:30 PM. Commercial truck traffic caught in the backup was escorted through the scene after the incident was stabilized.