School bus overturns in Jefferson County; 3 kids hurt

Three children were treated for moderate injuries Monday after their school bus flipped onto its side and slid into a creek bed.

The accident happened about 7:45 a.m. near House Springs in Jefferson County, south of St. Louis. Missouri State Highway Patrol Cpl. Julie Scerine said the injuries were not life-threatening.

"Bumps, bruises, maybe a broken bone or two," Scerine said.

The bus was carrying nine children. The other six children and the driver were also taken to St. Anthony's Hospital in St. Louis County for observation. Names of the driver and the children were not released.

No other vehicles were involved in the accident. The cause remains under investigation, but Scerine said it appeared that one of the bus tires went off the edge of the road. "The driver wasn't able to regain control and it went over on its side," she said.

The bus then slid down an embankment into the creek bed, the Highway Patrol said.

The bus was carrying students for the Northwest R-I School District. Ken Rossics, director of administrative services for the district, said the children on the bus ranged from kindergartners to sixth-graders. They were heading to House Springs Elementary and House Springs Intermediate schools.

It was the second bus accident in less than a month involving the Northwest District.

A car struck a school bus on Highway 30 in Dittmer on Jan. 30. The bus was carrying 26 students, but none were seriously hurt. Authorities credited bus driver Tina Stallings with keeping the bus under control long enough to keep it from plunging down a ravine.

The driver of the car that struck that bus, Kenneth Green, 35, of St. Clair, was charged after police said they found evidence of methamphetamine in the car.