Saint Louis County, MN — February 5, 2025, two people were injured in a bus accident at about 8:10 a.m. on Olsen Road north of Cook.
Authorities said a Northwoods School bus hit two trees and a light pole after sliding off the icy road near the school.
There were 31 students on the bus at the time of the crash, plus the driver, according to authorities.
Two students were hospitalized with non-life-threatening injuries, authorities said.
Authorities have not released any additional information about the crash at this time. The accident remains under investigation.
Commentary by Attorney Michael Grossman
Crashes involving school buses always raise concerns, especially when students are on board. In this case, icy roads reportedly caused the bus to slide off the road and hit two trees and a light pole. While that may seem like the whole story, my experience tells me that weather is rarely the only factor in these kinds of crashes. A full investigation should go beyond just blaming road conditions and take a closer look at what led up to the wreck.
One key issue is whether the bus driver was traveling at a safe speed for the conditions. Ice and snow obviously make roads more dangerous, but professional drivers are trained to adjust their speed and braking to compensate for reduced traction. Investigators should review the bus’s engine control module (ECM) data to determine how fast it was going before the crash and whether the driver made any sudden braking or steering maneuvers.
Another factor worth considering is the school district’s decision to run buses that morning. If the roads were bad enough to cause a crash, were they safe enough for school transportation in the first place? Many districts delay or cancel bus routes when winter weather makes travel too risky. Investigators should look into whether proper assessments were made before putting dozens of students on the road.
Finally, vehicle maintenance plays a role in handling on icy roads. Were the bus’s tires in good condition? Did the brakes function properly? Poorly maintained vehicles are harder to control in slick conditions, and without checking maintenance records, there’s no way to rule out a mechanical issue as a contributing factor.
Right now, it’s easy to blame the crash on winter weather, but that doesn’t tell the whole story. A proper investigation should look at driver actions, school district decisions and vehicle condition. If those factors aren’t examined, the risk of a similar crash happening again remains.
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