Residents voice concerns over Route Z after bus crash

BOONE COUNTY, Mo. (KMIZ)

Boone County Fire officials say a crash between an SUV and a Columbia Public Schools' bus left at least one student injured Thursday.

Authorities pulled a woman from her car after it hit the bus around 3 p.m. on Route Z between Centralia and I-70.

One resident in the area said they have seen problems on that stretch of road and a school zone sign should be added.

"I'm sure that would be a good idea but you know this is a throughway to go to Centralia and back and one where there are trucks, big semi-trucks and so it couldn't hurt anybody, it would probably be a good thing for safety," said Paula Partridge, who lives off of Route Z.

According to statewide traffic data, there have been at least a dozen crashes on Route Z from North of I-70 to Centralia each year since 2015.

Both the car and the bus are said to be totaled.

Columbia Public Schools officials say students were on the bus a the time of the crash. They said the bus normally carries 36 riders but were unsure how many students were on the bus at the time of the crash.

The Missouri State Highway Patrol says last year there were two fatal crashes and 168 injury crashes involving school buses statewide.