Scott Williams, swilliams@wolfrivermedia.com
Leader File Photo The Bonduel School District maintains a fleet of 15 buses to transport students along nine different routes to and from school.
A school bus carrying Bonduel students to school Thursday lost two wheels in traffic while traveling on state Highway 47 south of the village, officials said.
No injuries were reported initially, but Bonduel School District Superintendent Patrick Rau said a couple of students later complained of headaches, bruises and other minor injuries.
None of the students or the bus driver were identified immediately.
The incident occurred about 7:30 a.m. as the bus was traveling north on Highway 47 at Hofa Park Drive in the town of Lessor, where the speed limit is 55 mph.
The bus driver, who was transporting about 35 students, was able to maneuver the disabled vehicle safely to the shoulder of the road.
Rau said officials were investigating to determine what caused the wheels to fall off the bus, both on the rear driver’s side.
“It’s not a common occurrence,” Rau said.
A passerby alerted the Shawano County Sheriff’s Department, and deputies arrived to offer assistance while the disabled school bus was towed away and another bus arrived to pick up the stranded students.
Capt. Tom Tuma of the sheriff’s department said a passerby alerted his department at 7:34 a.m. to the school bus problem. Tuma said deputies on the scene reported that two wheels “broke off” the vehicle.
Tuma said there was no indication that deputies were able to determine why the wheels came off the bus.
Rau said the school district maintains a fleet of 15 buses to transport students to school along nine different routes. The bus involved in Thursday’s incident was headed toward campus and could have been carrying any combination of students between kindergarten and 12th grade, he said.
The bus has been taken out of service during the investigation.
School officials were taking steps Thursday to inform parents of the children involved in the incident.