School bus and truck collide, 16 injured

Robert Macy

Monday, July 26, 1999 | 3:19 a.m.

A school bus collided with a pickup truck at a busy intersection Monday, injuring the bus driver and 15 students, one critically.

The accident occurred on the city's west side when a bus carrying 52 students to classes at Roger Bryan Elmentary School collided with a truck carrying welding equipment.

Richard Falso, a witness, described the scene as "mass hysteria."

The 15 students and driver were taken to University Medical Center, where 10 of the children were treated and released, according to hospital spokeswoman Trish Lampro.

A young girl, found under a seat on the bus, suffered critical injuries. Her name was not released.

Las Vegas Metropolitan Police said the accident occurred at 8:30 a.m. The bus driver told police he stopped at a four-way stop, then started through the intersection. The bus driver said he was unable to avoid a collision when he saw the pickup was not stopping for the stop sign. The front end of the bus collided with the side of the pickup.

No charges were filed immediately, pending further investigation.

Police identified the driver of the bus as George Beck, 45. He suffered minor injuries.

The truck driver, Samuel Ford, 44, was not injured.

One counselor was sent to the school to assist children while another went to the hospital to be with the injured children and their parents.

Mary Stanley-Larsen, a spokeswoman for the Clark County School District, said the bus had no seat belts, and none were required by law.

"Studies that have been done nationally show that in a majority of cases, they would not make any difference," she said.

Roger Bryan is one of the district's year-round schools.

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