Both drivers taken to the hospital for back pain

By Graham Kislingbury


Gazette-Times Online Editor

PHILOMATH — An empty Philomath school bus and an empty log truck collided Wednesday morning at the intersection of Highway 20 and Kings Valley Highway 223 about five miles west of Philomath.

The crash occurred just before 8:30 a.m., said Deputy Randy Hiner of the Benton County Sheriff’s Office. The school bus, driven by Thomas Moffit, 58, of Tangent, was headed back to Philomath after dropping off students at Kings Valley Charter School, about nine miles from the site of the crash.

“The school bus apparently pulled onto the highway,” Hiner said.

Log truck driver Trinity Cross, 29, of Monmouth, tried to avoid the bus, but he couldn’t, Hiner said. The impact spun the bus around.

Moffit and Cross each complained of neck and back pain but were alert and able to walk at the scene, Hiner said. Both men were taken to Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center in Corvallis for examination. After Hiner interviewed the drivers, he issued Moffit a citation for failure to yield.

The collision caused temporary delays on Highway 20 until the vehicles were cleared about 9:30 a.m. The school bus, which is leased by the charter school, is owned by the First Student Bus Co. of Philomath. It was heavily damaged in the middle of the driver’s side.

The log truck’s cab was damaged. It is owned by Timber Dirt & Rock Co. of Fairview.

Crews from Philomath Fire and Rescue, Benton County Sheriff’s deputies and an Oregon Department of Transportation official all responded to the collision.