School bus hits SUV, jams I-5 traffic

Published 11:12 pm Friday, May 8, 2009

MOUNTLAKE TERRACE — Traffic was backed up for 9 miles on southbound I-5 in south Snohomish County on Friday after a school bus carrying students rear-ended a sport utility vehicle.

All injuries were minor and none of those hurt required hospitalization, State Patrol trooper Brandon Lee said. The accident occurred about 2:25 p.m.

The man driving the SUV had stopped in traffic in the right lane near 212th Street SW, Lee said. The school bus driver could not stop in time and rammed into the sport utility vehicle, knocking it onto the driver’s side.

The bus was carrying 11 girls and a coach from the Kamiak High School tennis team to a match at Shorecrest High School in Shoreline, Mukilteo School District spokesman Andy Muntz said. After the accident, another bus was sent to pick up the girls to bring them back, he said.

The collision blocked the right two lanes until the other bus arrived, Lee said. The freeway wasn’t cleared until about 4:30 p.m., more than two hours after the accident, according to the state Department of Transportation.

The bus driver, a woman, was under investigation for speeding, Lee said. The bus did not have to be towed and was driven back to its base by a mechanic, Muntz said.

Bill Sheets: 425-339-3439; sheets@heraldnet.com.