The Nebraska State Patrol, in conjunction with the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, is investigating the crash of a school bus and a semi-trailer truck, four miles west of Norfolk in Madison County.

The accident, involving a Mid-States school bus transporting students from Battle Creek Public Schools, and a semi- truck occurred around 7:15 a.m., Monday, May 6, at the intersection of Highway 275 and 549 Avenue.  The crash investigation indicates the school bus was northbound on 549 Avenue when it proceeded north across the highway colliding with a westbound semi-trailer truck. The impact forced the school bus into the ditch on the northwest corner of the intersection with the semi coming to rest on the shoulder of the highway.

There were 13 students and one driver on the bus, with eight students transported to Faith Regional Medical Center in Norfolk.  Of the eight students transported, two were seriously injured. The two seriously injured students were transferred by ambulance from the Norfolk hospital to medical facilities in Omaha. The names of the students are not being released at this time.  The other six students received minor injuries and are expected to be treated and released.

The driver of the school bus, Larry Prauner, 73, Battle Creek, and the driver of the semi, Stanley Jauer, 63, Hinton, Iowa, were not injured. Both drivers were wearing seat belts. Weather is believed to have been a factor in the crash with heavy fog in the area at the time.

The crash investigation closed a portion of Highway 275 for several hours.   The Nebraska State Patrol was assisted by the Madison County Sheriff’s Office, the Norfolk and Battle Creek Police Departments, and the Norfolk and Battle Creek Fire and Rescue Departments.