Fog was determined to be at least partially to blame for a multiple-vehicle collision between three semi-trailers and a school bus in Kindred, North Dakota on the morning of Friday, September 25, 2015. The driver of the Kindred School District bus, as well as three of the students being transported that morning, was injured in the crash. The accident took place near where State Highway 46 intersects with Richland County Highway 1 around 9 a.m.
One of the semi-truck drivers was traveling northbound on Highway 1 when fog reportedly obscured his vision, rendering him unable to see the school bus heading eastbound on Highway 46, resulting in the initial collision. Two other semi-trucks then crashed into the two disabled vehicles. There were at least 32 students and three adults on board the school bus at the time of the crash. The bus was en route to a field trip when the accident occurred.
All four vehicles involved in the accident were severely damaged, but none of the injuries sustained in the crash were life-threatening and all injured parties are expected to make a full recovery. The school bus driver was trapped inside the vehicle for close to an hour as emergency crews worked to pull her from the wreckage. She was then taken by ambulance to a local medical center for evaluation and treatment.
The area where the accident happened is notorious for its morning fogginess, which resulted in severely impaired visibility on Friday. Visibility was said to be down to a quarter-mile at the time of the pile-up. One of the semi drivers sustained cuts and bruises and reported feeling shock after the collision, stating that he believed he could have stopped his vehicle in time had the fog not been so prevalent that morning.