School Bus and SUV Collide in Violent T-Bone Crash Near Oakdale

 Morning Commute Disrupted by Violent Intersection Collision

A local school bus driver and an SUV motorist were hospitalized Wednesday morning following a violent T-bone collision that sent a school bus careening into a ditch near the Oakdale border. The incident unfolded at approximately 8:00 AM at the busy intersection of Highway 120 (Geneva Avenue) and Upper 35th Street, an area linking Oakdale, North St. Paul, and Maplewood.

Broadside Impact Sends Bus Into Ditch

According to the Minnesota State Patrol, a 41-year-old Oakdale man driving a Chevrolet Suburban was traveling westbound on Upper 35th Street when his vehicle slammed directly into the side of a District 622 school bus traveling southbound on Highway 120. The force of the broadside impact was severe enough to push the massive yellow bus completely off the asphalt, leaving it wedged nose-down in a steep roadside trench. The Suburban suffered catastrophic front-end damage, blocking traffic as debris shattered across the intersection.

Emergency Response and Condition of Drivers

Emergency crews rushed to the scene, fearing the worst for potential young passengers. However, school district officials quickly confirmed a massive relief: the bus was entirely empty of students at the time of the crash. First responders worked to extricate and evaluate both drivers. The driver of the school bus, a 65-year-old man from Roseville, was transported to a local hospital as a precaution. The 41-year-old driver of the Suburban sustained more severe, suspected injuries and was hospitalized for further treatment.

State Patrol Launches Investigation

The Minnesota State Patrol temporarily closed lanes and monitored the scene while heavy-duty tow trucks worked to pull the bus from the ditch. State troopers are currently leading the active investigation to determine which driver had the right-of-way and what specific factors caused the collision.