School Bus Involved In Hit & Run Crash Near Donald: Sheriff

DONALD, OR — A school bus full of children was involved in a hit and run crash near Donald Tuesday morning, according to Marion County Sheriff's officials. Aside from a few bumps and bruises felt by a handful of kids, no serious injuries were reported.

Victor Arnoldo Guevara, 40, of Aurora, was arrested and booked into Marion County Jail for his role in the crash. He is charged with failure to perform the duties of a driver to injured persons.

Deputies were dispatched to the crash at the intersection of Butteville Road NE and Ehlen Road NE at 8:45 a.m. Oct. 23. There deputies reportedly found a school bus and 2018 Peterbuilt box truck, both damaged and sitting in the road.

According to witnesses, a third vehicle — a black SUV — was also involved, but the driver fled after the crash.

Speaking with the box truck driver, 49-year-old Timothy Brown of Sheridan, and the school bus driver, 48-year-old Robin Martin of Canby, deputies got an idea of what occurred in the moments leading up to the crash.

Brown was reportedly traveling west on Ehlen Road NE when, near the intersection with Butteville Road NE, a black SUV heading east made a sudden left turn in front of him. Brown was unable to avoid a collision and hit the SUV at roughly 55 mph, causing it to spin and hit the driver's side wheel well of the school bus stopped at the stop sign, waiting to turn from Butteville Road.

The SUV continued on while Brown and Martin assessed the damage and checked on the 20 children on the bus at the time, officials said. Martin and four kids experienced some pain in the crash, but nobody needed a trip to hospital, officials said.

The kids were eventually picked up by another bus and taken to school.

Deputies continued their investigation, however, and located tire tracks in a nearby gravel driveway that ultimately led them to Guevara. He was arrested without further incident, officials said.

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Images via Marion County Sheriff's Office