A Wright County Sheriff’s Office cruiser and a school bus operated by Don’s Bus Services of Albertville collided at the intersection of Jason Avenue Northeast (Wright County Highway 18) and Jansen Avenue on the St. Michael-Albertville border, across the street from Cedar Creek Golf Course.
UPDATE (9 p.m. Tuesday, May 12): According to the Minnesota State Patrol report:
Bus driver Irena Karic, 49 of Albertville was headed westbound on Jason Avenue (County 18) where she was going to make a left turn on to Jansen Avenue to head to Fieldstone. The bus was carrying 41 kindergarten students from Albertville Primary headed to the elementary school for transfer.
While making the turn, the bus impacted the Wright County cruiser in the intersection. Deputy Melissa Meemken, 34, was eastbound on Jason and took evasive action, but still clipped the bus and skidded into the ditch. She was transported to a local hospital by Allina Ambulance, but her injuries were not considered “too serious” according to authorities at the scene.
Students on the bus, which was arriving (a correction from the previous report) at the Fieldstone area, were unharmed. They were moved to another bus and transported home, officials said. The driver was shaken, but not hurt.
The cruiser was struck had damage on both sides, appearing to have careened off the road and into the ditch on the southern side of Jason Avenue. Its side mirrors had come free from the side of the car, and the back bumper was completely stripped off the vehicle.
