1 injured in 2-vehicle crash involving Neelyville R-4 school bus

U.S. Highway 67 is open following a crash involving a school bus and a car Wednesday morning, March 15.
Published: Mar. 15, 2023 at 8:23 AM CDT|Updated: Mar. 15, 2023 at 9:23 PM CDT

BUTLER COUNTY, Mo. (KFVS) - U.S. Highway 67 is open following a crash involving a school bus and a car Wednesday morning, March 15.

According to the Missouri State Highway Patrol online traffic report, a school bus was stopped on southbound 67, 2 miles north of Neelyville, when a 2008 Pontiac Grand Prix, also going southbound, hit it.

According to the highway patrol, the car was driven by an 18-year-old Neelyville student from Wappapello.

MSHP Sgt. Clark Parrott said the teen was seriously injured and airlifted to a Memphis, Tennessee hospital.

Emergency crews responded to a crash involving a Neelyville R-4 School bus and a car on U.S. Hwy. 67 at Neelyville on Wednesday morning, March 15.(Source: Viewer submitted)

According to Neelyville R-4 School Superintendent Heather Black, 47 students in grades 3rd through 12th were on the bus and none were injured.

Another bus came out to the scene and picked up the students and took them to the school.

She said her first instinct was to get to the students.

“I pulled off to the side of the road, there was a line of cars, and I pulled off the side of the road and I got on the bus and immediately started helping with roll call,” she explained.

She said all 47 students on the bus are physically fine. Black said at the scene, they were concerned.

“I think it was a very traumatic incident to be in a wreck of any type,” she continued.

The superintendent said they made changes to the school day to meet the needs of the students.

“If parents felt they needed to be with their child or a student today, then they had that option,” she said.