No one hurt when bus and pickup collide near Hazel Run

HAZEL RUN (KMHL) – Forty one students from the Lakeview School District escaped injury after a school bus was struck by a pickup Friday afternoon southwest of Hazel Run.

The Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office says a pickup driven by Tracy Kocher, 41, of Echo, drifted across the center line and struck the bus. Authorities say the bus driver attempted to avoid the pickup by going partially into the ditch.

Authorities say Kocher claimed to have drifted off to sleep and no other impairments were detected.

Sheriff’s officials say all of the students were checked, by ambulance personnel, and there were no apparent injuries.