Courtesy photo by Washington State Patrol
Updated
By Sharyn L. Decker
Lewis County Sirens news reporter
An examination of the Winlock school bus that ran off Interstate 5 into a ravine turned up no mechanical failures or defects with its braking system, according to the Washington State Patrol.
Driver Ronnie H. Withrow told troopers the brakes failed when the bus carrying a soccer team went through a stop sign at the top of the northbound off ramp at state Route 505 and traveled 50 to 75 feet down an embankment into a swamp. Nobody was injured seriously enough to be taken to the hospital.
State patrol spokesperson Trooper Will Finn said he spoke this morning with the state patrol officer who inspected the bus.
The officer conducted an extensive inspection, focusing greatly on the brake system, according to Finn.
The 2009 bus was carrying 32 players, mostly teenage boys, along with two coaches and two managers. It happened about 10 p.m. on Tuesday, as the Toledo-Winlock High School soccer team was returning from a game in Vancouver.
Withrow, 53, began driving a school bus for Winlock in September, but drove for other districts before that, according to District Superintendent Shannon Criss. He is currently on administrative leave, according to Criss.
Finn noted the cause of the collision is still under investigation.
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For background, read “School bus wrecks off I-5 into swamp near Toledo” from Wednesday April 10, 2013 at 7:28 a.m., here
Tags: By Sharyn L. Decker, news reporter
Just as I thought, the brakes are fine. Someone is getting fired!