BOONE – Nearly a dozen Iowa schoolchildren were taken to a hospital after a bus turned over in a ditch.
On April 20, 2023, at about 7:22 AM, the Boone county dispatch received a 911 call of a bus that drove off the road and was on its side in the 1700 block of 205th St in Boone, IA. There were about 15 children on the bus ranging in age from approximately 5 to 15 years old. Minor injuries were reported as a result of the accident. Billie Thorson, age 49 of Boone, was the driver of the bus and the initial caller to 911. The school bus was operated by United Community School District.
Boone County Deputies, Boone Police, Boone Fire, Boone County Hospital, and Boone County EMA all responded to the accident. After all the children were evacuated from the bus, they were initially able to stay at a local residence shed to stay out of the rain. A school bus was requested from the Boone School district and was provided at the scene to assist with transportation needs.
Ultimately, one child was transported by ambulance to a local hospital. An additional 10 children were also transported by school bus to a local hospital for evaluation. All the children were reunited with their parents.
This accident remains under investigation by the Boone County Sheriffs Office.
