Authorities help stop runaway school bus; no kids on board

Published 2:52 pm Friday, July 19, 2019

GRANITE FALLS — Authorities and a local firefighter helped stop a runaway school bus after the driver had an apparent medical emergency.

There were no children on board and no one was injured Wednesday when the bus careened down the wrong side of the road on U.S. Highway 212 near Granite Falls.

The Yellow Medicine County Sheriff’s Office said it received several 911 calls about a bus crashing into vehicles. Authorities caught up with the bus, and Deputy Eric Diekmann drove in front of it with his squad car to warn other drivers. He used his brakes to slow the bus down.

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Granite Falls firefighter Greg Meyer then jumped from his personal vehicle, opened the bus door and put it in park.

The 70-year-old driver was taken to the hospital. His condition was unknown.