Fresno police say 11 students were injured when a pickup truck crashed into a FAX bus stop near Roosevelt High School. Deputy Police Chief Mark Salazar said there were no life-threatening injuries, with the worst being a fractured leg.

The driver, a 16-year old student at Roosevelt, was arrested for a felony hit and run, driving under the influence, and driving without a license. Salazar said the driver is suspected of being under the influence of marijuana. Police are obtaining a search warrant to conduct a blood draw.

It is not clear where the teen obtained the marijuana. Salazar says the teen does not have a police record.

Crash As Students Let Out of School

The injured students were taken to three area hospitals — CMRC, St. Agnes, and Clovis Community — where some have already been released.

The incident happened at a bus stop at the southwest corner of Cedar and Tulare avenues, across the street from the school, at 3:26 p.m.

The suspected driver and his 14-year old sister — a passenger — attempted to flee the scene, Salazar said. They were picked up by a woman, believed to be their mother. Police stopped the vehicle at Ventura and Orange avenues. The 16-year old complained of pain was was later taken to a hospital, before his arrest.

The mother was also arrested, charged with felony aiding and abetting. Her name was not yet released. The sister was released without charges to her father.

“Today was a sad day for our city and Roosevelt High region family!” Fresno City Councilman Luis Chavez — who lives nearby — wrote on Facebook.

“I rushed over five minutes after it happened and helped calm some of the Spanish-speaking parents that had arrived to ensure their children were OK. I’m extremely proud of our fire Fresno Police Department, Fresno Fire department, American Ambulance for helping treat our children. A special thank you to our Roosevelt teachers that rushed over and helped our students that were injured! They went above and beyond their duty, the FUSD team did a great job from our emergency management folks to administrators to staff members. Let’s all pray for the families that were affected today,” Chavez wrote.

Trustees React

“My heart and thoughts go out to the students, families and Roosevelt community. It’s a tragedy and I hope for a speedy recovery of all those injured as we await further details,” Fresno Unified Trustee Elizabeth Jonasson Rosas, who represents the area, said.

Said Trustee Susan Wittrup:

“This was a frightening and painful experience for the students who were injured, their families and the entire school community. Although details are still coming in for this dangerous incident, I will say we must do a better job protecting students as they go to and from school. Since becoming a school board member, I’ve seen an alarming pattern of our children being hurt and even killed on their way to and from school in Fresno, almost weekly. I urge the city and county to collaborate with FUSD to create safe pathways to and from school. Drivers, please slow down and pay attention, especially in school zones. Our most essential obligation is to protect our children.

Original story by Nancy Price:

Multiple students were injured when a car crashed into a FAX bus stop on Cedar Avenue south of Tulare Street near Roosevelt High School on Wednesday, Fresno Mayor Jerry Dyer said.

There were no fatalities, and 11 students were taken by ambulance to three hospitals, Dyer said.

The driver attempted to leave the scene of the crash but was apprehended and is in custody, he said.

“We dodged a bullet,” Dyer said, adding that the collision could have resulted in fatal injuries.

Fortunately, the injuries didn’t appear to be much more serious than broken bones, the mayor said.

TRAFFIC ALERT: Due to an vehicle collision with multiple injuries at Cedar Avenue and Tulare Avenue:

Southbound Cedar Avenue at Tulare Avenue is blocked to through traffic.

Eastbound Tulare Avenue at 11th Street is blocked to through traffic. pic.twitter.com/sGPTN9Zkbt

— Fresno Police (@FresnoPolice) September 6, 2023

Fresno Unified spokeswoman Nikki Henry said the injured were Roosevelt students.

“We are aware there has been an accident outside of Roosevelt High School where several of our students were hit by an out-of-control vehicle while waiting at a FAX bus stop,” she said in an email. “Emergency responders are on scene and our Fresno Unified emergency response team is also on scene providing support. Our team is also deploying mental health supports to the site.

“Those are all the details we have at this time and will update media as we learn more. Please keep our Roosevelt students and team in your thoughts.”

(GV Wire reporter Nancy Price contributed to this article.)