Culver woman arrested for Baker County school bus accident

An accident involving a school bus resulted in the arrest of a Culver woman for DUII around 9 p.m. Friday night on U.S. Highway 126 in Redmond near SW Helmholtz Way.

The bus was carrying 14 students from Baker County’s Future Farmers of America who were in Redmond for the state convention. No students or drivers were seriously injured, but three students were transported to the hospital with minor injuries.

The Culver woman, who remains unidentified, was driving a 2019 Subaru Ascent, ran into the westbound school bus, which was sent crashing off the eastbound shoulder of the highway and into a ditch. The crash closed the highway for approximately one hour.

The 34-year-old woman was charged with DUII, reckless driving, 15 counts of reckless endangering and three counts of fourth-degree assault. She was released early Saturday morning bending a future court date.

The students were in Central Oregon competing at the Oregon FFA’s state convention at the Deschutes Fair and Expo Center.

Baker School Super-intendent Erin Lair told news outlets: “We are so very grateful for fantastic first responders, caring and skilled staff, and parents helping our kids. Buses really do a spectacular job keeping students safe when collisions happen. We will get our students home and celebrate their incredible showing in the competition.”