Tragic Crash in Andover Claims One Life, Injures School Bus Driver and Student

A tragic crash early Tuesday morning north of the Twin Cities claimed the life of one man and left two others, including a student, injured. The accident involved a pickup truck and a school bus carrying several students to class in Andover, Minnesota.

According to the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, the crash happened just before 7 a.m. near the intersection of Roanoke Street Northwest and 175th Avenue Northwest. Investigators said the pickup truck was traveling north on Roanoke Street when, for reasons that are still under review, it crossed the center line and collided head-on with a southbound school bus.

The force of the collision caused devastating consequences. The man driving the pickup truck died at the scene before emergency crews could get him medical help. Officials have not yet released his name, pending notification of his family. The school bus driver, a woman, was injured in the crash, along with one of the students on board. Both were taken to a hospital with injuries described as non-life-threatening, giving their families and the community some relief that the outcome was not more severe.

There were four additional students on the bus at the time of the crash. Thankfully, they were not physically injured, though officials acknowledged the experience was frightening and traumatic for them. Their parents arrived shortly after the accident to take them home. The Anoka-Hennepin School District later confirmed that all of the students on board were from Anoka High School.

Authorities stressed that while the crash could have been much worse, it was still a sobering reminder of the risks on the road. “Any crash is difficult for the people involved. A school bus crash is even worse when we’re talking about children involved,” said Anoka County Community Relations Coordinator Tierney Peters. She urged drivers to slow down, pay attention, and follow the rules of the road to keep everyone safe, especially children traveling to and from school.

Emergency responders, including the Minnesota State Patrol and the Anoka County Sheriff’s Office, were quickly on the scene to secure the area, assist the victims, and begin their investigation into how the collision happened. Investigators will be looking into factors such as road conditions, the condition of the vehicles, and whether distracted or impaired driving played a role. At this stage, no official cause has been determined.

For the community of Andover, the crash struck a painful chord. School buses are widely seen as safe and reliable, carrying children every day with trained drivers at the wheel. But the sight of a school bus struck head-on in such a violent way is something that parents and neighbors won’t soon forget. Authorities and school officials emphasized the importance of mental health support for the students who witnessed and lived through the crash, saying that the emotional impact of such an event can last long after the physical injuries heal.

Parents across the district also expressed both relief and concern after learning of the accident. Relief that most students walked away unharmed, but concern about the fragility of safety when unpredictable events unfold on the roads. For the family of the man who lost his life, the morning commute ended in heartbreak.

Officials said more information will be shared as the investigation continues. In the meantime, they are urging everyone in the community to exercise patience, caution, and responsibility while driving. For families putting children on buses each morning, that sense of security is deeply valued—and tragedies like this highlight the need for everyone to work together to keep roads safe.

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