2 killed, 11 injured in North Dakota bus crash

LARIMORE, N.D. - A school bus collided with an empty freight train Monday in North Dakota, killing the bus driver and a 17-year-old student and injuring at least 11 other people, the Highway Patrol said.

The accident happened at 3:39 p.m. Monday on a gravel road about 5 miles east of Larimore in the northeastern part of the state. Grand Forks County Sheriff Bob Rost told KFGO radio that the bus was from the Larimore School District.

Highway Patrol Lt. Troy Hischer said the bus was heading north on a county road when it was struck by a westbound BNSF freight train. He said the train struck the bus on the passenger side, near the doors. The 62-year-old bus driver and a 17-year-old student were ejected from the vehicle and killed.

"Anytime you have children involved like this, it's pretty chaotic," Hischer told the Grand Forks Herald.

Authorities were still investigating the circumstances surrounding the accident, including whether the bus had failed to stop at the train tracks. Hischer said the weather was clear at the time.

Hischer said authorities weren't sure exactly how many people were injured, but believed the number to be 11 or 12. Officials with Altru Health System in Grand Forks said they had received 11 patients, two of whom were admitted and three of whom were transferred.

BNSF spokeswoman Amy McBeth said the train involved was not carrying any cargo at the time. She said no BNSF crew members were injured.

McBeth said BNSF has sent investigators to the scene.