RAPID CITY, S.D. – The Pennington County sheriff’s Office says following a detailed investigation into damage sustained by a Little Wound School bus on December 21, 2024, authorities have determined the incident was accidental.
The investigation by the Pennington County Sheriff’s Office included numerous interviews, an area canvass, and the collection and enhancement of digital evidence. It concluded that debris kicked up from the roadway by a black SUV as it passed the school bus caused the damage.
Investigators identified and interviewed the driver of the SUV, who was confirmed to be a resident of Wounded Knee and the sole occupant of the vehicle.
The incident occurred on a bridge near mile marker 75 on East Highway 44. Evidence indicates the damage was neither intentional nor criminal in nature.
