by Jonathan McNiven
Shepherd students headed for a field trip took an unexpected detour Wednesday morning when the school bus veered off the road. Here, Shepherd Fire Chief Phil Elhers escorts students as they get off the school bus and load the athletic bus in -10 degree weather. A red Billings Towing semi-truck sits in the background while a Yellowstone Valley Electric box truck sits after disconnecting power lines temporarily due to safety reasons. Traffic was backed up for about 3 hours both ways while emergency crews helped relieve the congestion. (Photo by Jonathan McNiven)
SHEPHERD—A Shepherd school bus left the road early Wednesday morning after being distracted at the wheel due to weather conditions. Scott Carter, Superintendent of Shepherd School District, told the Yellowstone County News early Wednesday morning that “approximately 65 students were on board headed to Red Lodge for a reward ski trip” when the bus front window got fogged up and the bus driver got distracted while trying to turn on the window defroster.
About a mile South of the school, the bus veered into the other lane and ended up driving off the road between a tree to the left and electricity pole to the right but breaking a guy wire.
Dan Shaules, Line Superintendent at Yellowstone Valley Electric Coop, told the Yellowstone County News Wednesday that the guy wire that was supporting the pole was broke and the pole shook hard enough to break the tap wire that shorted out the main feeder line all the way to the Shepherd substation and eventually shutdown electricity to over 200 people in the area for about 60 minutes.
School Superintendent Carter told the Yellowstone County News that Clark Morton, new driver to the Shepherd school district this year, was tested as a formality and there was no indication of substance issues. Click here to read more
