Morning traffic on a rural Oregon highway can look quiet until someone tries to cross and misjudges a gap. A three-vehicle crash near Winston last Thursday put that risk on a school bus with children on board.
What Happened
According to KQEN News Radio, citing an Oregon State Police report, the crash happened at about 7:45 a.m. Thursday at Highway 42 and Brockway Road near Winston.
An SUV was stopped at the intersection. The driver tried to cross the highway and did not see a second SUV. The vehicles collided in the eastbound lane, and the second SUV then struck a school bus that had stopped on the other side of Brockway Road.
The bus carried a driver and 10 students. The driver of the second SUV, a 79-year-old man, was taken to CHI Mercy Medical Center with minor injuries. Two children on the bus were checked by medical crews and released at the scene. Both SUVs were towed; the bus was able to be driven away. The OSP report, as relayed by KQEN, did not say whether citations were issued.
We’re glad the children were cleared on scene. The lesson below is general guidance for anyone crossing a highway or sharing the road with a school bus.
Crossing a Highway Takes Extra Caution
When you leave a side road to cross a through highway, you have to judge gaps in traffic that may be moving faster than they look.
- Come to a full stop at the stop line or before entering the highway.
- Look left, right, and left again. Scan far enough to spot vehicles that are still a distance away but closing quickly.
- Wait for a clear gap in both directions before you commit. Once you’re in the middle of the highway, you need room to finish the crossing.
- Don’t assume other drivers see you. Morning sun, rain, and roadside trees can hide a stopped vehicle at a side road.
- If your view is blocked, ease forward only far enough to see, then stop again before you go.
Sharing the Road With School Buses
A school bus on a side road changes the stakes. Kids may be loading, unloading, or sitting in seats while the bus waits. Give buses plenty of space, and never pass a stopped school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended when Oregon law requires you to stop.
- Watch for the stop arm and flashing lights. When a bus is loading or unloading with lights on, stop as required and wait until the lights stop and the arm retracts.
- Expect children near the bus, even if you don’t see them yet.
- Slow down in school zones and near bus stops, especially in the morning and afternoon.
Morning Habits That Help
- Leave a little earlier so you’re not rushing a gap.
- Put the phone away before you roll.
- Turn on headlights in low light or rain so other drivers see you sooner.
- If you’re unsure about a gap, wait. Another opening will come.
Oregon Traffic Level 1 Course
If you have an Oregon traffic ticket and your court offers diversion, a traffic school course may help. Defensive Drivers Institute’s Oregon Traffic Level 1 Course is accepted by most Oregon courts, though your court may need you to confirm. If your court allows it, finishing the course can keep the violation off your driving record.
The course is 100% online. You can start and stop anytime. It has 4 hours of content with a 3-hour minimum time, includes a final exam, and you can download your certificate when you finish. If your court has set up delivery with us, we send it to the court automatically; otherwise you submit it yourself.
For more on staying alert at Oregon intersections, see our post on looking for cyclists before a right on red.
The Bottom Line
Crossing a highway from a side road demands a full stop, a careful scan, and a gap you can finish. Around school buses, slow down and give kids every chance to stay safe.
Have an Oregon ticket and a court that allows traffic school? Start the Oregon Traffic Level 1 Course.
