School bus hit ice in road, five injured

TOWN OF CLINTON, Wis. (AP):

ROCK COUNTRY deputies say a school bus skidded and went partially airborne after hitting a patch of ice, leaving five students with minor injuries.

Authorities say there were 19 students in the Clinton Community School System bus on Thursday morning. The injured students were taken to hospitals, while the rest were either taken to school or picked up by their parents.

The students ranged from elementary-school to high-school ages.

Bus driver Harlan W. Biesma told investigators he was driving about 45 miles per hour, when he hit the ice. The bus swerved off the road and continued into a ditch. Then it hit a driveway and bounced about 80 feet before skidding to a stop.

Deputies say alcohol was not a factor, nor did the 70-year-old driver have any medical issues beforehand.