School bus crash cuts short field trip for Modesto fourth-graders

A field trip to Columbia State Historic Park was cut short for about 150 Orchard Elementary School fourth-graders Tuesday when one of two school buses was rear-ended in Modesto.

The buses were northbound on Claus Road on Tuesday morning; both stopped at the railroad crossing before Santa Fe Avenue as required by law, said California Highway Patrol Officer Bryce Disch.

When the second bus stopped at the tracks, a Ford sport utility vehicle stopped behind it but the driver of a Nissan pickup, 56-year-old David Coleman Oxford Jr., did not stop in time and the truck rear-ended the Ford. The Ford was then propelled into the back of the school bus.

“Following too closely and not being cognizant of people in front of you doesn’t leave you an option to slow down,” Disch said.

None of the approximately 75 children on the school bus were injured.

Only the driver of the Ford, 34-year-old Katie Tripp, suffered minor injuries and was taken by ambulance to Oak Valley Hospital. Her twin boy and girl, who are 3, were in child seats in the back. They were not injured.

Both buses went back to school after the crash. The field trip will be rescheduled.

This story was originally published April 12, 2016 at 9:58 AM with the headline "School bus crash cuts short field trip for Modesto fourth-graders."