Driver, students released from hospital after bus crash

The driver of the school bus involved in a Wednesday morning collision and five Morgan City Junior High students who were on the bus were all released the same day from Teche Regional Medical Center with minor injuries.
The St. Mary Parish school bus was sideswiped by another vehicle at 6:47 a.m. Wednesday.
Morgan City police said the bus, which was on La. 182 near Halsey Street in Morgan City, was hit when another vehicle swerved onto the highway and crashed with a third vehicle. Only one vehicle made impact with the bus.
Nineteen students were on the bus at the time of the secondary impact, said Morgan City Police Capt. Teddy Liner.
Five children and the bus driver were transported by Acadian Ambulance to the hospital as a precaution.
The students were released to their parents Wednesday.
Bus driver Jean Paul Pellerin is a little bruised and sore this morning, said St. Mary Parish Schools Acting Transportation Supervisor Mike Ortiz.
St. Mary buses are inspected for safety twice a year — in the summer and at the end of the school year.
School buses are designed to be among the safest vehicles in the transportation industry, said Ortiz.
The compartmental design of a bus provides high-cushioned seat backs and space between seats, creating a safer feel for transporting students.
One of the two other drivers involved in the crash was cited for a violation. Morgan City police wouldn’t release the name of the cited driver.