Dear Portland Public Schools Families,

We are writing to inform you that a vehicle ran into the rear of one of our school buses on Washington Avenue this morning, Tuesday, March 28, while it was transporting 15 students to school. Fortunately, the majority of the students were unhurt, but one student was transported to the hospital with injuries not considered life threatening.

According to Portland Police, the accident occurred shortly before 8 a.m. at the intersection of Washington Ave. and Allen Avenue. The PPS school bus was stopped in the left-hand turn lane, when a tractor trailer failed to stop and struck the bus from behind.

By late Tuesday afternoon, a mechanical inspection of the bus was complete. While the bumper of the bus was dented, there was no significant damage to the body of the bus and it has been deemed safe to operate as usual.

Police say the accident is still under investigation, and that the driver has not been cited at this time. Please know that we take bus safety very seriously and will cooperate fully with this investigation as needed.

Sincerely,

Melea Nalli and Aaron Townsend, Interim Co-Superintendents