Driver Injured In T-Bone School Bus Rollover Is Asst. Volleyball Coach At South Ridge

CHERRY TOWNSHIP, Minn.– It was a truly a terrifying school bus ride Thursday morning for students from Cherry School when their bus was t-boned, sending it rolling into a ditch.

Twenty-one students were on board when the bus rolled and ended upright.

Twelve students were sent to a hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.  The bus driver is also going to be OK.  But the driver of the SUV is facing life-threatening injuries, according to the St. Louis County Sheriff’s Office.

Svea Snickers, 19, of Alborn (FOX 21 file)

The victim is identified as Svea Snickers, 19, of Alborn.  FOX 21 confirmed she is an assistant volleyball coach at South Ridge School in Culver.

As for the crash investigation, FOX 21’s Emily Halling reports:

What was supposed to be a routine bus ride to school Thursday morning turned into one of a parent’s worst fears.

“You know, you hear that initial call go out and it involves children ranging from … kindergarten to potentially twelfth grade. My heart just goes out to the parents because there’s that time where you don’t know if your kid is injured, is he not,” according to St. Louis County Undersheriff Jason Akerson.

Emotions were high while trying to get in touch with the children’s parents. Luckily, the team had an immediate plan for those worried parents.

“This morning, you receive the message that you know a school bus is involved, obviously they’re concerned it’s their children. So, we tried to set up a station here where parents could come and receive updates where their kids were. You know, we tried as fast as we could to direct them and give them that information,” said Akerson.

The crash resulted in the children experiencing bumps, bruises, cuts and concussions. Several shoulder injuries were reported as well. The injured children, along with the driver of both the car and the bus, were transported to the hospital. The driver of the car was life-flighted to Essentia Health in Virginia for her injuries. Responding to this incident was a team effort.

“The response involved many different agencies. Obviously, the St Louis County Sheriff’s office. The Minnesota State Patrol, Hibbing Police, we’re aided multiple fire-ambulances crews, Hibbing, Virginia had folk. Eveleth Fire had folks over here. Along with the St Louis County rescue squad,” explained Akerson.

Akerson is grateful for the commitment from the response team, as well as the school district as well.

“I couldn’t give a kudos enough to the school district for their response in their cooperation for this incident as well,” added Akerson.

Supt. Dr. Reggie Engebritson, of the Saint Louis County School District, released a statement to FOX 21 Thursday.

“This was a very scary situation for all involved and our thoughts and prayers are with our students, their families, our bus driver and the driver of the other vehicle,” Engebritson said.

Both drivers were wearing their seatbelts and alcohol was not involved, according to the Minnesota State Patrol.

The cause of the crash is under investigation. Students at the Cherry School will be receiving extra support through therapists and councilors to help them process this traumatic event.