School Bus Crash Claims Two Drivers

A crash involving a Glasgow Public Schools bus and a pickup was reported west of Glasgow on Hwy 2 on Sept. 19. Both drivers involved were killed. The driver of the truck was Julie Steiger (31) of Troy, Mont., and the school bus driver was Harold James (Jim) Belcher, a 73-year-old Fort Peck resident.

According to Valley County Sheriff Vern Buerkle, the accident was called in at 6:35 a.m. on Tuesday morning. The bus was headed westbound at mile marker 526 near the rest stop between Glasgow and Hinsdale when a truck in the eastbound lane crossed the center line. Both drivers were pronounced dead at the scene.

Four children and one adult chaperone were passengers on the bus, which was en-route to an eighth-grade field trip in Havre. They were taken to Francis Mahon Deaconess Hospital and treated for injuries.

At press time, the identities of the passengers could not be confirmed, but Glasgow Superintendent of Schools Bob Connors told area media that their injuries were not life-threatening.