A second North Callaway bus has crashed in less than a week, with this crash causing no injuries.

A crash on Oct. 2 caused multiple injuries, none life-threatening. Five students and an adult went to the hospital.

The latest crash occurred Tuesday morning on County Road 2000 near the intersection of State Route DD, according to Missouri State Highway Patrol Sgt. Kyle Green. 

In a news release, North Callaway officials said Bus 4 experienced a minor incident and slid into a roadside ditch on a Callaway County road. At the time, there was one student on board.  The release did not provide an exact location of the wreck.

“We are grateful to report that both the student and the driver were unharmed in the incident,” the release stated. “While no injuries occurred, we recognize that any transportation incident involving our students is concerning. The North Callaway R-1 School District is committed to transparency and continuous improvement in all matters related to student safety.”

The release stated as part of the district’s established protocol, every incident is “thoroughly reviewed by our Central Office team, including the Director of Transportation, Assistant Director of Transportation, and our School Resource Officer. Using our BusRight software, we assess detailed data on bus speeds, stops, and routes. Additionally, onboard cameras provide valuable insight for incident evaluation. Investigations are also conducted in coordination with local authorities, including the county in which the incident occurred and the Missouri State Highway Patrol.”

The release stated that in light of this and a separate recent transportation-related incident, the district is taking further proactive steps to strengthen its safety practices, the release stated. All drivers are participating in a safety briefing, reviewing defensive driving techniques and route specific considerations. The district’s director of transportation is re-evaluating all bus routes to identify any potential areas of concern. And officials are in communication with the Audrain County Commissioners Office regarding roadway signage at the intersection involved in Thursday’s incident. 

“Student safety is — and always will be — our top priority,” the release stated. “We are committed to doing everything we can to ensure that every child arrives to and from school safely each day. We also want to thank our families and community members for their ongoing support. Maintaining the highest safety standards requires all of us — drivers, staff, parents, students, and community partners — working together.”

If people notice any road conditions, intersections or driving practices that could pose a safety concern, officials encourage them to contact Tom Tenney, the district’s director of transportation, at ttenney@nc.k12.mo.us so officials can address them promptly.

Editor's note: This story was updated to provide attribution to Missouri State Highway Patrol concerning the crash location.