Woman killed in auto-bus smashup

A woman was killed after she lost control of her vehicle and was hit by a school bus carrying at least 12 teenagers and four adults Friday.

The 63-year-old woman was driving a pickup truck and following her husband who was in another vehicle on state Route 6 between Spanish Fork and Price. Police believe the couple were headed from Washington toward California.

Just after 7 p.m., near Soldier Summit on the county line, the woman lost control on slippery roads and went into oncoming traffic, said Utah Highway Patrol Trooper Preston Raban.

The truck crossed the center of the road and went into the path of a San Juan County school bus.

Raban said the woman was killed instantly. Her name was not released pending notification of family members.

"Her husband saw what happened and turned his vehicle around to see if he could help," Raban said. "It's kind of sad to have to see that."

The bus was carrying about a dozen students to Utah County for a debate competition today. The driver of the bus hurt his arm in the near-head-on collision.

"None of the students were injured and another bus was on the way to transport them from the top of the mountain," Raban said. He said some of the kids were shaken up, but all were released from the scene of the accident.

It was snowing at the time of the accident.

"It's a very sad situation," he said. "Not much anyone could do."

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E-mail: wleonard@desnews.com