Several children were injured this morning in Minot when a school bus went into a ditch.

The crash occurred about a half-mile from Minot Consolidated School, according to a notice from Regional School Unit 16 Superintendent Amy Hediger.

“Several children sustained injuries, and first responders, including United Ambulance and Minot Fire and Rescue, were on the scene immediately to assess and care for the students,”  Hediger said. “Families of those students are being contacted directly.”

Hediger, in a later update, said 16 students were evaluated for minor injuries by EMS at the school.

Students were also checked throughout the day by school staff, Hediger said, and "United Ambulance returned in the afternoon as a precaution to recheck any students who stayed at school before school dismissal."

"We are grateful to our Emergency Response Team, our dedicated school staff, and the MCS families who have stayed connected throughout this time," Hediger said, said. "The kindness and quick actions of our older students on the bus, who instinctively stepped in to comfort and support their younger peers, have truly touched our hearts."