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Prior Lake family shocked after school bus crash

Prior Lake family shocked after school bus crash

AND Lake Before a family is speaking out after saying their child was involved in a school bus accident.

The mother stated that her child no longer felt comfortable riding the bus and was waiting for answers from the district.

The mother also tells FOX 9 she understands accidents happen, but hopes that after an incident like this, district officials will be able to respond more quickly to students’ needs.

What happened

The parent of a fourth-grade student in Prior Lake said it was a call no parent would want to answer.

“When you receive that call, your heart definitely sinks,” said the Prior Lake parent. “Suddenly I heard sirens screaming. I knew the bus was late. I look at my phone and see that my private number is calling me, so I answered and a policeman calls and says: my son was in a bus accident, that he’s OK.”

Her son was the only student on the bus last Friday afternoon as it passed near the intersection of Highway 13 and Fish Point Road.

“I struck this pose. I got stuck in the seat,” said a fourth-grade student who was riding the bus.

The family said they were disappointed with the district’s response.

RELATED: More and more school buses in Minnesota are failing safety inspections. Here’s why.

“When I arrived at the scene, I was a bit surprised to see that the bus crew was already there. The district office was notified before parents were even notified that their child had been involved in a bus accident,” the parent said. “When I got there, the bus driver admitted it was his fault. He actually ran a red light. He hit a car and then that car hit another car.”

She said her son now doesn’t feel comfortable riding the school bus and is reaching out to district officials for help in finding a solution.

“They said they would try to arrange a van for him to pick him up in the morning and I said I would be happy to pick him up after school. I’m just asking for help in the morning, said the parent.

What does the district say?

A spokesperson for Prior Lake-Savage Area Schools confirmed that police were on the scene of the bus crash and sent FOX 9 the following statement: “We take the safety of our students very seriously and are committed to ensuring their well-being at all times. Due to privacy concerns, we cannot provide detailed information about individual students or personnel matters. Please know that we are working closely with all parties involved to address this situation and ensure the continued safety of our students.