Students find comfort by attending school following tragedy
Blue Hill Superintendent Joe’l Ruybalid speaks during a
press conference Thursday outside the school.
BLUE HILL — The day after a school bus-semitrailer collision that killed two Blue Hill students, one former student and their bus driver, the best option was to keep school in session.
“It was a better situation than having those kids drive around school or drive around the community or even stay home,” Superintendent Joe’l Ruybalid said, “for them to be in school, be supportive of each other and have the help that they needed here at the school while they were here.”
According to a news release from Webster County Attorney Sara Bockstadter, the collision occurred just before 5 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of R Road and 1800 Road, both unpaved. A Blue Hill Community Schools school bus was eastbound on R Road when it collided with a semi and trailer hauling hay bales that was northbound on 1800 Road.
The vehicles came to rest in the ditch and field in the northeast corner of the intersection. Both were engulfed in flames.
Those killed were semi driver Travis Witte, 21, of Blue Hill; bus driver Marla Wentworth, 59, of Red Cloud; and two students riding the bus, Dustin Tesdahl, 18, and Caroline Thallman, 10, both of Blue Hill. All four died at the scene of the accident.
Five other students on the bus ranging in age from 6-10 were transported to area hospitals. Four of the students were taken to Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings.
Blue Hill Superintendent Joe’l Ruybalid speaks during a
press conference Thursday outside the school.
“It was a better situation than having those kids drive around school or drive around the community or even stay home,” Superintendent Joe’l Ruybalid said, “for them to be in school, be supportive of each other and have the help that they needed here at the school while they were here.”
According to a news release from Webster County Attorney Sara Bockstadter, the collision occurred just before 5 p.m. Wednesday at the intersection of R Road and 1800 Road, both unpaved. A Blue Hill Community Schools school bus was eastbound on R Road when it collided with a semi and trailer hauling hay bales that was northbound on 1800 Road.
The vehicles came to rest in the ditch and field in the northeast corner of the intersection. Both were engulfed in flames.
Those killed were semi driver Travis Witte, 21, of Blue Hill; bus driver Marla Wentworth, 59, of Red Cloud; and two students riding the bus, Dustin Tesdahl, 18, and Caroline Thallman, 10, both of Blue Hill. All four died at the scene of the accident.
Five other students on the bus ranging in age from 6-10 were transported to area hospitals. Four of the students were taken to Mary Lanning Hospital in Hastings.
To read more, see Friday's Hastings Tribune or the Tribune e-edition.>>>
