A St. Paul School District bus was struck by what is suspected to be a stray bullet or projectile Wednesday afternoon.
The bus was traveling westbound on St. Paul Highway at about 1:00pm when the driver heard the impact. The projectile struck the driver's side windshield, about 10" above the driver's head, but did not penetrate the glass. It left a spider-web like crack in the windshield.
There were two elementary age children on the bus at the time, but neither the children nor the bus driver was injured. The bus completed its route with no further issues.
Sr. Deputy David Wagner inspected the damage to the bus. He determined that the bus was struck in a very open, flat area, but the driver saw no one in the area. Given that it was a single shot, Wagner suspects the incident was non-intentional. It more likely came from someone shooting a firearm in the fields surrounding the area where the incident occurred. Wagner was unable to specifically identify the caliber of the projectile, but he suspects it was a 22 caliber or possibly a pellet from a pellet gun.
Anyone with information about this incident can call the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 503.588.5032, or you can email Deputy Wagner at Dwagner@co.marion.or.us .
Photos of the bus should be available later today. They will be posted at that time.
The bus was traveling westbound on St. Paul Highway at about 1:00pm when the driver heard the impact. The projectile struck the driver's side windshield, about 10" above the driver's head, but did not penetrate the glass. It left a spider-web like crack in the windshield.
There were two elementary age children on the bus at the time, but neither the children nor the bus driver was injured. The bus completed its route with no further issues.
Sr. Deputy David Wagner inspected the damage to the bus. He determined that the bus was struck in a very open, flat area, but the driver saw no one in the area. Given that it was a single shot, Wagner suspects the incident was non-intentional. It more likely came from someone shooting a firearm in the fields surrounding the area where the incident occurred. Wagner was unable to specifically identify the caliber of the projectile, but he suspects it was a 22 caliber or possibly a pellet from a pellet gun.
Anyone with information about this incident can call the Marion County Sheriff's Office at 503.588.5032, or you can email Deputy Wagner at Dwagner@co.marion.or.us .
Photos of the bus should be available later today. They will be posted at that time.