Stoddard County school bus crash seriously injures six

GRAYRIDGE, Mo. — Six Sikeston, Mo., residents sustained serious injuries and three Richland School District students sustained minor injuries at about 3:30 p.m. Thursday when a sport utility vehicle slammed into the passenger side of a Richland school bus at the Grayridge intersection of Route AH and Highway 114.

At least one passenger in the front seat of the SUV was airlifted from the scene of the accident. Dexter Fire Department's extrication team assisted in removing two of the injured people from the SUV.

Six people were riding in the SUV at the time of the accident, and five were taken by ambulance to various medical facilities. One, 22-year-old Brittany L. Brown, a passenger in the front seat, was airlifted to a Cape Girardeau hospital from the scene.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol, the accident occurred as the Richland bus was proceeding north through the intersection of Route AH and Highway 114 at Grayridge, after having stopped at the stop sign that is required for north and southbound traffic. The SUV was proceeding west on 114 when it hit the bus.

Three Richland students, ranging in age from 6 to 13, sustained minor injuries in the accident but were released to their parents.

Six ambulances were on the scene, along with the medevac helicopter and several highway patrol units and members of the Stoddard County Sheriff's Department.