Students hurt in bus accident

Two Carrington, N.D., students were airlifted for injuries after a school bus went off the road Tuesday morning, officials said Thursday.

Wells County Sheriff Curtis Pellett said 65-year-old Lawrence Hepley of Sykeston, N.D., is a substitute bus driver for the Carrington Public School District. Eight children ages 9-16 were riding the bus, which was headed east on a gravel road about 10 miles west of Carrington. Pellett said the incident occurred around 7:30 a.m. and Hepley was driving into the sun.

As Hepley approached a T-intersection, he failed to turn and continued straight on the road and onto a prairie trail, “which would have made the bus bounce pretty heavy,” Pellett said. The bus did not have seat belts.

Pellett arrived at the Carrington school around 8 a.m. and contacted authorities.

“I’m guessing he didn’t finish his route,” Pellett said.

Carrington Public Schools Superintendent Brian Duchscherer said Hepley won’t be driving a bus for the district until further notice, saying he was unsure how long Hepley has worked there.

Five of the students were treated for stomach pain, back pain and soreness at Carrington Health Center. Of the five, one student was later taken by air ambulance to Sanford Health in Fargo and and another student was taken to MedCenter One in Bismarck. The other three students were treated and released, Duchscherer.

The bus was not damaged, Pellett said.

Hepley was cited for careless driving.

About 540 students are enrolled at Carrington, which is located about 43 miles north of Jamestown.

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