Tuesday morning started out cool and rainy on Hwy 110 in Mendota Heights. After 30 students had been picked up, Raymond Baar, the driver of a Monarch Bus Service school bus, was driving eastbound and needed to turn left onto Charlton Street. He failed to see a westbound vehicle approaching, turning in front of the Pontiac Gran Prix, resulting in a collision.

Justin Kalenberg, 24, driver of the Pontiac, was transported to Regions Hospital and is in serious condition. Six children were taken to Regions Hospital, as well, where they were treated and released.

The accident occurred about 9 a.m., according to Minnesota State Patrol records. The bus was transporting students to Tarek ibn Ziyad Academy, a K-8 Inver Grove Heights charter school. The impact resulted in the bus going into the ditch. The roof of the car had to be removed, with the “jaws of life”, to get the driver out. State Patrol reported that the driver was conscious and talking by the time he was extricated.

State law requires a bus driver to pass a written test, road test, and physical exam. Additionally, their criminal history and driving record are pulled and checked each year. Minnesota State Patrol will review the bus driver’s records to determine whether he was qualified to drive. Baar is on leave pending the investigation.

Do Passengers Have a Claim?

All of us want our children to be safe while they are being transported. School bus accidents are very scary for everyone involved, especially for the children onboard. It is vital to have qualified drivers, driving well-maintained buses, and obeying the traffic laws.

The Minneapolis personal injury lawyers at TSR Injury Law are compassionate, caring fathers who aggressively pursue justice where the system has failed. Call (612) TSR-TIME or submit our free contact form.