The Kansas Highway Patrol says 68-year-old Jeffrey Lynn Baxter of Leavenworth was driving a car westbound on Interstate 70 and tried to pass the westbound USD 417 Morris County school bus, which was driven by 61-year-old Machelle King of Council Grove and carrying 12 students -- all 7-year-olds -- from Alta Vista, Council Grove and Dwight. Besides King, two women were also on board: 62-year-old Jean Johnson of Dwight and 62-year-old Deb Hewitt of Alta Vista.
Baxter's car brushed against the bus about two miles west of the Tallgrass Road exit shortly before 2:15 pm.
It's unclear what led to Baxter's car sideswiping the bus and the destination of the school kids has not been released.