1 dead, many students injured as sleeping driver rams truck into school bus

A truck driver fell asleep and collided with a school bus and a car, killing one person and leaving scores of students and other passengers injured.

The accident happened near Orondo in Central Washington State on Thursday.

Washington State Patrol blamed the tragic incident on the driver who they slept off while on the wheel and hit the other vehicles after crossing the centre line, Myrtle Beach Online reports.

"We do suspect the driver fell asleep," Trooper Darren Wright said.

The car driver, a 22-year-old woman identified as Carmela Cuellar Morales, died on the spot while her female 12-year-old passenger sustained minor injuries.

She was taken to Central Washington Hospital in Wenatchee and has been discharged after treatment according to the Hospital's spokeswoman Steph Grubich.

The Orondo School District bus was left badly damaged and it is a miracle that nobody died on it.

One of the survivors, 6-year-old Jasmine Gaona told KOMO-TV of Seattle that she and some other kids were flung out of the bus on impact.

"When the truck crashed the bus, I (fell) and the kids fell out of the seats," Jasmine said.

Forty-three students who were passengers in the school bus, their driver, 53-year-old Pamela Robertson, the truck driver and his passenger were all taken to the hospital.

Reports quoting the Hospital's Chief Nursing Officer say the victims mostly suffered "a few fractures" and "bumps, bruises and lacerations.

Police have taken the driver's blood sample and are checking to see if drugs or alcohol played a role in the accident.