University Bus Crash
School Bus Crashes into Hamline University Building, Four Suffer Minor Injuries in St. Paul
Key Points
St. Paul police spokesperson Nikki Muehlhausen said three children were taken to a children’s hospital and the bus driver was transported to Regions Hospital for minor injuries.
Hamline University posted an alert closing the St. Paul campus at 3:15 p.m. and asked students to “avoid the area until further notice,” while not explaining the crash in detail.
Bystander video reported by KSTP showed tire tracks running more than 100 feet across the lawn toward the point of impact on the north side stone wall of the Robbins Science Center.
The same KSTP report also captured what appeared to be a man on scene saying the brakes “went out” prior to the crash—an observation beyond the summary’s general mention of a possible brake issue.
A school bus carrying about a dozen children from Higher Ground Academy, a St. Paul charter school, crashed into the Robbins Science Center at Hamline University on June 2, 2026, just after 2 p.m. Four people — three children and the bus driver — were taken to hospitals with minor injuries, according to Star Tribune. No one inside the building was hurt.
The bus, operated by PTB Services, traveled more than 100 feet across the university lawn before hitting the north wall of the science building, according to KSTP. Hamline closed its St. Paul campus at 3:15 p.m. and told students to "avoid the area until further notice."
Bus Embedded in Stone Wall, Campus Shut Down
St. Paul police got the first emergency call at 2:05 p.m. NBC News reported that the bus veered off Snelling Avenue near the Hewitt Avenue intersection, leaped a median, and plowed into the north side of the Robbins Science Center. Tire tracks stretched more than 100 feet across the lawn, according to KSTP. Video showed the bus embedded deep into the building's stone facade.
Hamline junior Kiley Knudson was inside the building when it happened. She described feeling a "breeze" blow her headphones off, then smoke and alarms filled the space, according to Hamline Oracle. First responders did a room-by-room search to make sure no one was trapped. University spokesperson Amy Pak confirmed that no students, staff, or faculty were injured.
Three Children and Driver Hospitalized With Minor Injuries
St. Paul Police spokesperson Nikki Muehlhausen said three children were taken to Children's Minnesota hospital. The bus driver was transported to Regions Hospital. All four were treated for minor injuries. About 12 to 14 students were on board at the time of the crash, according to NBC News.
Police said no other vehicles were involved. Officials described it as a single-vehicle accident. The cause remained unclear in initial reports, though one bystander at the scene was captured on video saying the brakes "went out" before impact, according to KSTP.
Bus Operator Failed 6 of 7 Safety Inspections in 2026
The bus was operated by PTB Services, also known as Pride Transportation Bus Services LLC. Records show the company failed six out of seven state safety inspections between January and April 2026 — an 85.7% failure rate — according to Law Enforcement Today. Brake problems were among the issues flagged in those inspections.
PTB Services markets itself as "Safety Certified" and "Reliable Transportation" on its website. That claim now faces serious scrutiny. A 2024 investigative report found some St. Paul-based bus companies were failing 91% to 100% of annual inspections, with issues like fuel leaks and brake failures. The Hamline crash may push Minnesota lawmakers to ground entire fleets when companies exceed a set inspection failure rate.
Science Building Damage Disrupts Hamline's Summer Programs
The Robbins Science Center is the heart of Hamline's biology and chemistry departments. The crash left a large hole in the building's north stone wall. Structural engineers were called in on the morning of June 3 to assess how stable the building remains, according to the Hamline Oracle. Repairs for that level of structural damage can range from $20,000 to over $100,000.
With the building damaged, summer research projects and lab courses at Hamline are likely suspended or relocated. The university has not yet said when the campus will fully reopen. Officials said the investigation into what caused the crash is still ongoing, according to Star Tribune.
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