Students injured after head-on collision between school bus, garbage truck in Spanish Fork

SPANISH FORK, Utah (KUTV) — Officials have reported that several students were injured after a head-on collision between a school bus and a garbage truck in the Spanish Fork area.

The crash was reported Thursday afternoon at about 400 North 630 West.

Officials said about 40 students were on the bus. Three high school aged students were transported to the hospital, and so was the driver of the garbage truck, all with minor injuries officials said.

While the garbage truck was traveling eastbound and the school bus was westbound, both on 400 North, when the school bus attempted to turn south toward Spanish Fork High School, officials said.

The cause of the crash is still under investigation.

Officials confirmed that the bus was transporting high school students from Washington County.

Steve Dunnam with Washington County School District said the occupants of the bus were the Dixie High School girl's soccer team, who were set to play against Spanish Fork High School tonight.

Dunnam said Alpine School District will help provide a bus for the team while they are in the area.

Jimena Fuentes is an assistant coach for the Spanish Fork soccer team, and she was behind the bus when the crash happened.

“The bus just started turning left as the garbage truck was coming, and you could just see it was going to be a crash,” Fuentes said.

Once she saw it happen, she called and let the rest of the team know.

“We were getting ready to warm up and a few of our girls went to help the girls and show some support,” said Josias Solorzano, who is also an assistant coach.

The Spanish Fork girls brought ice and water and even escorted the Dixie High girls to the locker room.

As a result of the crash, they decided to cancel both games that were scheduled.

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“It was kind of back and forth like yeah we’re playing, and then no we’re not,” Fuentes said. “But they all took it well and just kind of made sure the other girls were alright mentally and physically.”

“It was cool they were more worried about the girls’ wellbeing than the game,” Solorzano said.

We don’t know the status of the three girls and the driver, but the uninjured Dixie High athletes seemed to be in high spirits despite what they experienced.

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