This post has been updated at 5:25 p.m. Thursday, April 14.
Around 8 a.m. this morning while Cedar River Middle School students waited at the bus stop to be picked up, a pickup truck reportedly lost control and drove into them.
The accident happened in the Cherokee Bay neighborhood of Maple Valley, according to a message the Tahoma School District sent out to all parents and staff this morning.
It occurred near SE 271st and 218 Ave SE where the group of students were standing on the east side of the road waiting to be picked up. The truck was driving southbound and veered across the road.
Six students were injured and three of them were treated on scene while the other three were transported to hospitals, two to Valley Medical Center and one to Harborview Medical Center.
The Kent Regional Fire Authority sent a release on behalf of the Maple Valley Fire Department around 10 a.m. stating the students were injured by the vehicle or from crash debris.
The students were treated on scene by Maple Valley FD, Kent Regional and King County Medic One.
Sgt. Cindi West, media relations for the King County Sheriff’s Office, said one boy was taken to Harborview with serious injuries to his chest and another was taken to Valley Medical Center with a broken leg.
She added, the other student’s injuries range from a possible broken ankle to cuts and bruises.
Valley Medical Center spokesperson Kelley Balcomb-Bartok confirmed two boys had been taken to Valley and one has been released. The one released is 12 years old and has an ankle injury. Balcomb-Bartok said he has no broken bones only bruising.
Balcomb-Bartok said the 11 year old boy still at Valley has been admitted with a broken femur. He added that they scanned for head injuries and found none.
“Both boys and their families are in good spirits under the circumstances,” Balcomb-Bartok said.
Harborview and UW Medicine spokesperson Susan Gregg confirmed one 11 year old boy arrived at Harborview and was admitted for observation.
Gregg said he is in the intensive care unit and she listed him as “serious but stable and alert.”
The driver of the pickup was also evaluated at the scene.
“He apparently suffered a medical issue which caused him to lose control of his vehicle and strike the 11 and 12 year olds. There were approximately 20 children waiting at the bus stop at the time of the crash. The driver is in the custody of deputies,” the release from the Kent RFA said.
West confirmed in a press release that the driver of the pickup truck appeared to have suffered a medical issue prior to hitting the students.
After hitting the students at the bus stop, the truck continued traveling southbound and hit a tree. When officers and medics arrived, the 19 year old driver was found unconscious behind the wheel with his foot still on the gas pedal.
During the on scene investigation, officers learned the driver’s license was suspended. West confirmed he taken to the Covington MultiCare for treatment and later booked into King County Jail for multiple counts of investigation of vehicular assault.
West said alcohol was not suspected in the accident but a blood draw was taken to determine if drugs were involved.
This case has been forwarded to the prosecutor’s office for review and filing. The driver’s name will not be released until he is charged, West said.
For those students at Cedar River Middle School, the TSD said in its message this morning that counselors will be available if need be.
The district message also stated that “fire and police officials have asked that parents not go to the accident scene.” It added, parents will be contacted after the students are looked at.
