Bus has some minor troubles

Several Sisters students traveled to Portland on January 31 to tour Doernbecher Children's Hospital. Their bus encountered a couple of problems during that trip.

"My driver was returning to pick up students from their tour of Doernbecher," said Angie Gardinier, transportation supervisor, "when she had to stop approximately eight feet back from the stop sign because a Tri-met bus was coming around the corner in her lane.

"At that point both buses stopped and the Tri-met bus had traffic backed up behind it. My driver decided it would be best for her to back up and let the Tri-met bus come through.

"In maneuvering back around a curve she bumped into a concrete wall that was about three feet high. The Tri-met bus was then free to move on."

Damage was slight.

"The damage to the back of the bus was so minimal it didn't even need to be reported as an accident," Gardinier said.

On their way home the driver ran into another problem.

"My driver was leaving the Burger King parking lot and due to the way the cars were parked she was unable to make a right hand turn, and decided to go straight up and head out that way," Gardinier said.

"It was a steep incline without enough length for the tow hooks in the back of the bus to clear. She heard the scrape and stopped, and was unable to get the bus moved. Fortunately, a man in a Ford pickup, who also happened to be a truck driver, pulled the bus free."

No students were injured and there was no damage to the tow hooks.

The mishaps were minor, but they will be addressed, according to Gardinier.

"When anything like this occurs I investigate further and follow through with additional training," she said.