One person was killed and two were severely injured in a three-vehicle collision north of Orondo. The 43 students on the bus are being checked at a Wenatchee hospital.
The Washington State Patrol is investigating a crash near Wenatchee involving a school bus, a box truck and a car.
Trooper Darren Wright said in a tweet that the driver of the car was killed in the accident, five students and the bus driver have minor injuries and the two people in the truck were seriously injured.
All 43 students on the bus were taken to the hospital to be checked out, even those without obvious injuries, said Douglas County Sheriff Harvey Gjesdal.
The roadway was clear and dry at the time of the crash, which happened just before 8:11 a.m. on Highway 97, about five miles north of Orondo. Weather conditions at the time were sunny and clear. No further details on the crash were immediately available.
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Orondo is a small community with a gas station, post office and one school, a combination elementary-middle school with about 160 students.
Gjesdal said it was the worst accident in his 30-year career in law enforcement.
“Anything involving a school bus causes great concern — sad, sad.” he said.
Highway 97 between Orondo (milepost 213) and the junction with state route 150 (milepost 235) remains closed, according to a tweet from the Department of Transportation at 12:45 p.m. For those traveling between Wenatchee and Chelan, take 97A.