No injuries were reported in a crash involving a school bus that caused a brief single-lane closure Monday afternoon on U.S. Highway 160, about 100 yards east of Farmington Hill, according to Colorado State Patrol.
Cpt. Adam Driscoll said a school bus was rear-ended about 2:20 p.m. by a small truck at mile marker 88, near C&J Gravel Products.
“The bus driver made a stop, turned on the lights, did everything by protocol,” Driscoll said. “And as soon as he opened the door to let children out, he was rear-ended.”
Driscoll said the other driver, Darell Darnell, 69, of Durango, told officers he briefly looked in his rearview mirror to check traffic, and when he looked forward again the bus had stopped, and there was not enough time to brake.
Darnell was cited with careless driving, having no proof of insurance and not wearing a seat belt.
Driscoll said none of the four children nor the driver, was injured.
Julie Popp, a spokeswoman for Durango School District 9-R, said parents involved were notified, and an alert text message went out shortly after the crash.
No posts were made to social media, she said, because the district’s priority is “to get in touch with parents first, then notify the community at large.”
The bus route involved was DP1.
jromeo@durangoherald.com An earlier version of this story incorrectly stated the day of this crash.