School Bus and Passenger Car Collide; Car’s Female Driver Killed

A head on collision between a passenger vehicle and a school bus near Coulterville left the female driver of the car dead. It happened after 2pm Friday and also left the bus driver with a broken arm, and 4 kids complaining of pain.

Officials with the California Highway Patrol say the vehicle, possibly a Toyota or Nissan wagon, crossed the center line on Fiske Road north of Greeley Hills Road and hit the school bus head on.

The 54-year-old driver of the passenger vehicle was alone in the car except for her dog. The accident sent the bus driver, 43-year-old Karen Tholeke, and three kids to Sonora hospitals.

Officials are conducting a mechanical inspection of the vehicle as well as an autopsy on the deceased woman. Still no word on a cause of the accident.