Children recovering after school bus, semi accident

    Several students at Chase County Schools are recovering this week after a school bus and semi-trailer accident about 4 p.m. Tuesday.
    The school bus, traveling south on the Champion Spur 15A highway, was taking students home after the school day with 11 children on board ages 5 to 15, said Sheriff Kevin Mueller, whose office is heading the investigation.
    The majority of passengers and driver were transported to Chase County Community Hospital with a wide range of injuries by Imperial EMS and a fire department vehicle, he said.
    A CCS school van came to the scene to transport a few students who were on the bus.
    Three students were air-lifted later Tuesday to regional trauma centers after three helicopters and a plane were sent to Imperial for the transfers, Mueller said.
    Now, his office is working with the Nebraska State Patrol. On Wednesday, the NSP Carrier Enforcement Division was to inspect both the bus and semi.
    Mueller said the bus and semi were impounded for the investigation after being removed from the scene around 10 p.m. Tuesday.
    Mueller said he would be returning to the scene Wednesday at the intersection of the highway and Road 328, about 4 miles southwest of Imperial, to reconstruct the accident with NSP officers.
    The sheriff’s office preliminary investigation indicates the school bus, a 2020 Integrated CES owned by Chase County Schools, attempted to make a left-hand turn from the highway, when it collided with a 1992 Peterbilt semi pulling a fully loaded grain trailer. The bus driver was Keith D. Cranwell, 39, of Champion.
    The semi, driven by 20-year-old Chance D. Lotspeich of Venango, is owned by KAK Inc. of Champion and was traveling northbound on the highway.
    The semi impacted the rear passenger side of the bus, causing it to rotate 90 degrees and overturn onto the driver’s side, Mueller said.
    After striking the bus, the semi continued north a short distance before leaving the roadway, crossing the ditch and coming to rest near the Cooper and Jana Bollman home.
    The bus was turning into the Bollman driveway to drop off the Bollmans’ 5-year-old kindergartner when the crash occurred.
    It was a scary situation, Jana Bollman said.
    At the time, she was looking out of their south-facing window when she saw the semi coming through the trees and toward their home.
    “I thought, what’s going on?” she recalled.
    She said she grabbed her two younger children to get out of the way. After the semi had stopped, she said she walked out the front door and saw the collection of people and students at the end of their driveway.
    It was then she saw the overturned bus that had been blocked by the trees. She spotted her son on the driveway with the others. He was unharmed, she said.
    A photo she took later from inside the home shows the semi within about 2 feet of striking the house.
    On Wednesday, Mueller said his office is still in the preliminary stages of the investigation.
    In addition to Mueller, his deputies and the EMS, the Imperial Volunteer Fire Department and roads department employees assisted at the scene.
    Mueller said the Wauneta EMS was contacted to help transport possible patients but  that call was later cancelled.
School statement
    CCS Supt. Adam Lambert issued the following statement Wednesday morning:
    “Chase County Public Schools is profoundly saddened by the accident that occurred Tuesday and involved a school district vehicle transporting Chase County students.
    “At this time, the accident remains under investigation. Prior to the conclusion of that investigation, it would be premature to provide further details. The school district and appropriate authorities will continue to collaborate to investigate and support the affected families.
    “We want to thank the emergency responders, law enforcement and the community for the rapid response to this matter and the support provided to all involved and affected. We will have counselors and other staff members available at school to work directly with students addressing this matter.”