Bus company awaiting medical test of driver involved in crash

Last modified: Sunday, November 30, 2008 8:05 AM CST

Bus company awaiting medical test of driver involved in crash

By The Chippewa Herald

The Chippewa Yellow Bus Co. is awaiting to see if Mary M. Martin is medically cleared to continue driving school bus, a company official said Tuesday morning.

Martin remains an employee of the company while it waits for the results, said Kurt Nelson, safety director for the bus company. Martin has been a driver for Chippewa Yellow Bus Co., the company that supplies bus service of the Chippewa Falls School District, for more than 20 years.

Martin has not resumed driving for the company since the school bus she was driving overturned Nov. 10 in the town of Wheaton. Six children were aboard the bus and two had minor injuries.

Martin was cited by the Chippewa County Sheriff’s Department for driving too fast for conditions.

A sheriff’s department report implied that a medical problem or Martin’s medication may have been a factor in the crash.

County dispatchers received a 911 telephone call just prior to the crash on County F, 75 feet north of 50th Avenue, with information about a school bus that was being driven erratically.

Martin takes prescription medicine to help her sleep and for allergies, according to information in the accident report.

A witness reported prior to the crash that Martin was driving erratically.

Examples cited were driving in the northbound lane while traveling southbound, failing to pick up a student, and not stopping for a railroad crossing.

The bus entered a ditch and overturned onto its top.

Crash factors cited in the report included the vehicle going left of center, the driver failing to have control, and the driver’s condition.

Martin, 59, told a deputy she did not remember the events before the crash.