High school athletes headed to a basketball game on the Oregon Coast were involved in a bus crash Friday, resulting in one student being taken to the hospital.
A bus carrying basketball players from Vernonia High School collided with a minivan around 3:15 p.m., according to the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District. One person was taken to Tillamook Regional Medical Center for further evaluation.
According to Vernonia School District Superintendent Jim Helmen, the van crossed the center line and hit the bus about 5 miles outside of Nestucca. The condition of the van driver was not immediately clear.
«I am grateful to report that all students, coaches, and driver are safe,» Helmen said in an initial message to the community. «One student experienced a medical event that has been classified as a seizure and is currently receiving appropriate care.»
Helmen later said that one student was taken to the Tillamook hospital, and their family was notified immediately.
«Another student sustained an injury but did not require hospital transport,» he added. «We are grateful the situation was not more serious and that our students are being cared for.»
Helmen said the administration of the Nestucca Valley School District worked with Tillamook law enforcement to transport Vernonia students from the scene, taking them to Nestucca High School with a replacement bus.
«Once there, their Senior Safe parents provided food for our team and staff. They made counseling support available for students who were understandably shaken and opened their library as a quiet space,» Helmen continued. «Oregon State Police also responded to take statements.»
The Vernonia boys and girls teams were each scheduled to play at Nestucca High for a 6 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. double-header. The games were quickly canceled after the crash, and NVSD said they would share rescheduling updates once available.