Five injured in bus crash

Five people were injured when a private bus transporting family crashed late Sunday afternoon on Asbury Road off Highway 97 near Carlin Bay, the Kootenai County Sheriff’s Office said.

The KCSO received a report around 5:35 p.m. of a single-vehicle accident, and that the bus was wedged between trees and occupants were trapped and injured inside the bus.

Kootenai County deputies and personnel from the East Side Fire Department responded to the scene. Due to the unknown injuries, Life Flight was also requested. As units arrived on scene, it was determined there were a total of 10 occupants on the bus and five of them were injured. After assessing the injuries, Life Flight was canceled and the injured passengers were transported to Kootenai Health by medical personnel with non life-threatening injuries.

Initial reports indicated the bus had a mechanical failure and lost control and went off the roadway, getting stuck between a cluster of trees. The bus was not affiliated with any organization or company.

The Kootenai County Traffic Team was called out to investigate the accident. It does not appear alcohol or drugs were a factor in the accident, KCSO said.