A bus carrying Vernonia High School basketball players was struck by a minivan Friday afternoon near the Oregon coast, according to officials with the Nestucca Rural Fire Protection District. Initial reporting by KOIN states that one student was transported to a hospital following the collision.

The crash occurred shortly before 3:30 p.m., when emergency crews responded to a report of a bus–minivan collision on a coastal highway. Fire officials confirmed that the bus was transporting athletes from Vernonia High School, located in Columbia County and frequently traveling through coastal corridors for games against regional opponents.

The condition of the hospitalized student has not been publicly detailed, and no additional injuries were reported by responding agencies. Officials on scene described the incident as a crash significant enough to require a medical transport but not a mass‑casualty response.

As of Saturday, authorities had not released further information about the cause of the collision or whether any citations were issued. School officials have not yet made a public statement regarding changes to athletic travel plans or student support services following the incident.

Why this matters

Vernonia is a neighboring rural community whose students, like many in southwest Washington and northwest Oregon, regularly travel long distances on narrow highways for school activities. Regions including Cowlitz County rely on similar transportation patterns, making crash responses and student‑safety protocols relevant for families, coaches, and administrators across the area.

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