Children recovering from bus collision

Staff Reports

Three children helicoptered to a Reno medical center after a bus hit their sports utility vehicle on Thursday have been released from the hospital.

Hunter Hughes, 3, Dallas Hughes, 9, and Simon Dewit, 9, were home, according to the Hugheses grandmother, Ann Geary.

Geary said Hunter and Simon had to undergo reconstructive surgery over the weekend and that the injuries were much more serious than previously reported.

Glass had to be removedfrom the childrens' faces.

Dallas was admitted for observation for pain to his neck, back and stomach.

Glass had to be removedfrom the childrens' faces.

Kristine Hughes was turning left to get gas at the Riverview 7-Eleven when a school bus driven by Louis Bergandi struck the drivers' side of her Ford Excursion.

Bergandi was transporting a bus load of children from Topaz Ranch Estates to Minden Elementary School.

Hughes was taking six children to Scarselli Elementary School.

An initial investigation into the accident revealed that Bergandi failed to stop at the traffic signal.

No citation has been issued and the Nevada Highway Patrol is conducting an investigation, which will be forwarded to the District Attorney's Office for disposition.

Geary said she's not buying the malfunctioning warning light as an excuse in the accident.

"What sort of a person flies up to an intersection when the light turns yellow and goes through it," she said. "You can't depend on caution lights."

She said the Hughes family had paid off the vehicle and was building a new home.

"This was very devastating to them," she said. "We haven't had anyone from the school district call and inquire about the children."

Community Development Director Mitch Dion confirmed that the warning light, which the county maintains for the state, was out and that it was repaired on Friday.

He encouraged anyone who sees a malfunctioning light to call 782-9035.