Eleven schoolchildren and two adults sustained injuries, some of them moderate. Authorities have launched a criminal investigation against a 22-year-old driver suspected of causing the crash.
The incident happened around 8:00 a.m. on the district road between Jettingen and Wettenhausen in the Günzburg district. According to police in Swabia South/West, the young driver was the second of two cars attempting to overtake a truck in succession. She failed to return to her lane in time and sideswiped an oncoming articulated school bus before colliding with another vehicle driving behind the bus. The 72-year-old bus driver swerved to avoid the impact but crashed into the guardrail.
The bus was carrying 94 schoolchildren when the collision occurred. Eleven of them, aged between 11 and 15, suffered minor to moderate injuries. The 22-year-old driver was also moderately injured, while the driver of the third involved vehicle sustained only minor injuries. Initial estimates place property damage at no less than €150,000.
Emergency Response and Police Investigation Underway
Emergency services responded swiftly, with paramedics attending to the scene. The children who were uninjured received medical assessments on site before being taken either to school or home via a replacement bus. Authorities have initiated legal proceedings against the young woman on suspicion of negligent bodily harm in traffic. The road was temporarily closed following the accident but has since reopened to traffic.
Seatbelt Requirements in School Buses Remain a Grey Area
The crash has reignited public debate about seatbelt use in school buses. According to German road traffic regulations, there is generally no seatbelt requirement in regular service buses, including most school buses. However, coaches and specially equipped school buses that feature seatbelts are subject to different rules. In such vehicles, passengers must use the seatbelts provided. It remains unclear whether the bus involved in this incident was equipped with seatbelts.
As investigations continue, questions surrounding road safety, especially when transporting children, are again under the spotlight.
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