KANSAS CITY, Mo. — A man is facing charges after allegedly hitting a Grandview school bus, sending several students to the hospital and fleeing the scene Saturday evening.
Coley Gene Waters is charged with driving while intoxicated, two counts of second-degree assault, leaving the scene of an accident, and operating a motor vehicle in a careless manner.
Officials say a minivan struck the bus at NW 50 Highway and NW Route Z outside of Lee's Summit around 7:25 p.m. Saturday. The driver allegedly fled the scene on foot.
Waters was picked up by police a short time later. He was brought back to the scene and placed under arrest.
Eight people were injured in the crash and taken to area hospitals with non-life threatening injuries. They were treated and released.
Students on the bus described the terrifying moments after the crash to 41 Action News.
“All I remember is tires screeching and us being in the air and everything was going in slow motion,” said Rashad Buckles, a junior at Grandview High School.
The team was on their way back from a track meet when the van smashed into the side of the bus.
“I watched the van hit us and I just grabbed onto the seat and we were rolling. I was just wondering, am I about to die?” said Rodrick Smith, a junior on the track team.
Waters's bond is set at $50,000.
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