Two injured in Cadillac school bus crash
A 36-year-old woman and a juvenile passenger were injured when a Jeep collided with a school bus Tuesday morning.
The Cadillac Police Department said officers responded about 8:30 a.m. Oct. 20 to Leeson Avenue and Wright Street.
Investigators said the Cadillac woman was driving a Jeep Wrangler east on Wright Street when she failed to stop at the intersection and pulled into the path of a Cadillac Area Public Schools bus.
The collision pushed the Jeep into a power pole on the northeast side of the intersection, damaging power lines along Leeson Avenue.
Emergency crews took the woman and passenger to Munson Healthcare Cadillac Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. The bus driver was alone aboard the bus and wasn't injured.
The Cadillac Fire Department and Mobile Medical Response assisted police. Consumers Energy was contacted to repair the damaged lines.
Michigan right-of-way rules at intersections
Stopping doesn't automatically give a driver the right to enter an intersection. Under MCL 257.649, unless a police officer directs otherwise, drivers approaching a stop sign must stop and then yield to vehicles already in the intersection or approaching closely enough to pose an immediate hazard while they cross or move within it.
Claims involving government-owned school buses
Public school districts generally have legal protection from injury lawsuits when carrying out governmental functions. Under MCL 691.1405, an exception allows claims for bodily injury or property damage caused by a government officer, agent or employee negligently operating a motor vehicle the government agency owns.
The bus's ownership and the driver's employment status can therefore affect whom an injury claim may involve. Michigan Legal Center's explanation of bus accident claims in Michigan describes how public and private ownership can change the claims process.
Get help from Michigan Legal Center
Michigan Legal Center: the Law Offices of Christopher J. Trainor & Associates handles motor vehicle injury and no-fault claims throughout Michigan.
If you were injured in a school bus collision, contact Michigan Legal Center to ask about help with an injury or insurance claim.
There is no attorney fee unless money is recovered for you. Case costs and fee terms are governed by the written fee agreement.