Three students were injured Tuesday morning when their school bus was rear-ended by a pickup truck in a rural area south of Manteca, the California Highway Patrol reported.
The bus was carrying 34 students when it was struck from the rear at 7:17 a.m. by a Ford Ranger pickup on West Ripon Road, east of Kinkaid Road.
The truck’s driver, a 17-year-old girl whose name was not disclosed, had been traveling about 55 mph when she slammed into the back of the bus, which had its flashing red lights activated and stop sign extended to pick up students, authorities said.
The impact resulted in minor injuries to three students, none serious enough to result in hospitalization, according to the CHP.
The teenage truck driver sustained more serious injuries, although none considered life-threatening, officers said.
In a social media post, CHP officials emphasized that the crash serves as a critical reminder.
“Stop for school buses when their red lights are flashing — it’s the law!” the post noted. “Stay alert and avoid distractions — children’s lives are at stake.”