Federal Report Says Seatbelts Lessened Injuries in Bus Crash

Transportation safety officials say the use of seatbelts in a school bus that was involved in a 2017 rollover crash in Helena probably prevented more serious injuries to the two children and two adults inside.

The National Transportation Safety Board this month released a report examining the November 2017 collision that happened when the 12-seat bus pulled out in front of a pickup truck.

The crash resulted in minor injuries to the occupants and the 18-year-old driver of the truck.

The report concludes that the crash was probably caused by the bus driver's failure to see the truck and that the driver's and passengers' use of seatbelts lessened the injuries sustained in the crash.

The report says the 72-year-old bus driver tested negative for drugs and alcohol and he was not on medication.