Three injured when stolen school bus collides with truck in NW Minnesota

ULEN, Minn. – Three people were injured when a stolen school bus sideswiped a pickup on Sunday in northwestern Minnesota, the State Patrol reported.

The crash between the GMC Sierra and the small bus occurred about 6:41 a.m. near Ulen, about 25 miles northeast of Moorhead, the Patrol reported.

All three of those involved suffered non-life-threatening injuries, Clay County Deputy Mike Trygg said.

The driver of the pickup and two juvenile boys, ages 14 and 15, who had been driving the bus, were taken to a Fargo hospital and treated, Patrol Sgt. Jesse Grabow said.

The bus had been stolen from the Circle of Life Academy on the White Earth Indian Reservation, Grabow said. However, he did not know when the bus had been stolen, or who had stolen it.

After the juveniles were treated, they were taken into custody by the State Patrol. Charges are pending and they are now in custody, Grabow said.

The pickup ended up on its side on the roadway, partially blocking traffic. The bus went into the east ditch and ended up on Burlington Northern Santa Fe railroad tracks that run parallel to the highway, Trygg said.

Both vehicles had heavy damage, Trygg said.

The two juveniles left the scene on foot and went to a nearby farm, Trygg said. A woman at the farm called authorities.

“They had gotten away from the scene, but they couldn’t actively resist” arrest, said Trygg, who responded to the call and then called for medical aid for the youths.

The pickup driver was helped out of the wrecked truck by a passerby before Trygg and Ulen firefighters arrived, Trygg said.

None of those involved in the crash appeared to have life-threatening injuries, Trygg said.

The crash remains under investigation, Grabow said.