Executive Summary
- A pickup truck struck a Cascade School District bus on SR 97A, resulting in one fatality.
- The passenger of the pickup died, while both drivers sustained injuries; no students were harmed.
- Bystanders intervened to rescue the trapped bus driver before first responders arrived.
- Washington State Patrol cited black ice and icy road conditions as key factors in the crash.
A fatal collision on State Route 97A left one person dead and two others injured Friday morning after a pickup truck reportedly lost control on black ice and struck a Cascade School District bus carrying high school students. The crash occurred near Milepost 227, north of Knapps Tunnel, prompting a significant emergency response and the temporary closure of the highway.
According to the Washington State Patrol (WSP), the incident began when a vehicle, identified as a Ford Ranger, lost traction due to icy roadway conditions. The pickup collided with the school bus, which was transporting the high school wrestling team to a tournament. WSP confirmed that the collision resulted in the death of a passenger in the pickup truck. The driver of the pickup sustained serious injuries, while the bus driver suffered non-critical injuries.
Witnesses at the scene described heroic efforts by bystanders before first responders arrived. Katie Thomson stated that her husband, Seth Thomson, utilized his vehicle to reach the crash site and immediately began assisting the victims. Thomson reported that her husband had to break the steering column of the school bus to extricate the driver, who was pinned inside the wreckage and in significant pain.
Representatives from the Cascade School District confirmed that no students or coaches on the bus were injured. Beth Southwick reported that the team was en route to a competition when the oncoming vehicle struck their bus. As a precautionary measure, all students were transported to Lake Chelan Medical Center for evaluation before being released. A replacement driver was subsequently dispatched to transport the team back home.
Weather and Traffic Safety Impact
Preliminary reports from both law enforcement and witnesses indicate that environmental factors, specifically black ice, played a decisive role in this collision. The presence of black ice on SR 97A highlights the persistent hazards facing motorists in the Chelan area during freezing morning conditions, particularly in shaded areas near tunnels. This incident underscores the critical importance of winter driving preparedness and the unpredictability of road surface conditions in the region. The Washington State Patrol continues to investigate the specific mechanics of the crash to finalize their report on the fatality.
