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UPDATE: Roadway repaired, school bus drives into small sinkhole near Willcox Friday

School bus drives into small sinkhole, breaks axle near Willcox
Bus axle.jpg
School bus drives into small sinkhole, breaks axle near Willcox
School bus drives into small sinkhole, breaks axle near Willcox
School bus drives into small sinkhole, breaks axle near Willcox
School bus drives into small sinkhole, breaks axle near Willcox
School bus drives into small sinkhole, breaks axle near Willcox
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UPDATE 09/22:

KGUN 9's Alexis Ramanjulu spoke with Shawn McCartha, Maintenance and Transportation Director for Benson Unified School District, about the incident. Here are the details he confirmed.

McCartha says the bus was picking up students at a bus stop and there were 14 students on board. He confirms there were no injuries.

The bus driver was waiting to turn on Richland Road when the road opened up and the wheel got stuck. McCartha says there was no damage to the bus.

"There was no way for the driver to see it," said McCartha.

The bus driver drives the route daily and there wasn't a fissure there on Wednesday.

The area got a significant amount of rain on Thursday night.

The bus stop was moved to a different part of the parking lot to avoid the messed-up road and the bus route has been changed to avoid Richland Road for Friday afternoon and Monday morning.

As of now, the roadway has been repaired and the bus will no longer have to use a detour route.
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A Cochise County school bus drove into a small sinkhole and broke an axle near Willcox, Friday morning.

The incident happened while the bus was traveling on Highway 191 and Richland Way.

All of the kids on board were reported safe with no injuries.

Because of the sinkhole, Richland Way will be closed from Highway 191 to Paint Pony Lane for most of the day.

Drivers should avoid the area.

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