Oak Harbor police investigate school bus crash

OHPD is still investigating a Nov. 21 hit-and-run crash involving a school bus and a stolen car.

Oak Harbor police are still investigating a Nov. 21 hit-and-run crash involving a school bus and a stolen car, according to Capt. Tony Slowik.

The car involved in the collision was later found abandoned in a city neighborhood thanks to tips from residents. It was damaged enough to be undriveable.

Slowik explained that the school bus dash camera recorded the accident. It shows a car on Northeast O’Leary Street crossing in front of a school bus traveling on East Whidbey Avenue; the bus struck the back of the car. Slowik said the collision was clearly the fault of the car driver, who left the scene.

No students were in the school bus at the time and the driver was not injured. Slowik said the bus driver was driving below the speed limit and tried to avoid the crash.

“The driver did a really good job when it comes to reaction time,” he said.

The police department posted the video of the crash on Facebook and asked residents for help in finding the damaged car.

The school bus appeared to be largely undamaged except for the “stop paddle,” which was broken, according to police. The Washington State Patrol inspected the bus before it returned to service, which is the policy when a school bus is involved in a collision.