Full Notification

SUBJECT OF RELEASE: Property damage accident, car vs. school bus
DATE AND TIME: Approximately 1215 hours, Wednesday November 02, 2016
LOCATION: Jones Rd near W Edgar Rd., Reynolds Township
AUTHORITY/CONTACT PERSON: Undersheriff Michael J. Williams

Montcalm County Deputies are investigating a crash involving a Tri County Schools school bus. The bus collided with a passenger car driven by a seventy-four year old Howard City woman. The school bus was transporting five pre-school students to the school on E. Edgerton St. in Howard City. BARBARA THOMPSON failed to yield when leaving a private driveway on Jones Road and pulled out in front of the south bound bus. The bus driver, GAIL NORQUIST was unable to stop the bus and took evasive maneuvers to avoid a more serious crash. The front driver wheel of the bus made contact with THOMPSON's car as NORQUIST steered around her.

There were no injuries to the students or drivers. Several representatives from Tri-County Schools and Dean Transportation arrived on scene and the children were loaded onto a different bus and taken to school. School officials contacted the parent(s) of each student involved and advised them of the crash. THOMPSON was issued a citation for failing to yield.