School bus driver dodges oncoming semi-truck, Mille Lacs sheriff praises 'heroic efforts'

A school bus driver in Mille Lacs County is being praised for his actions after avoiding a head-on crash with a semi-truck Wednesday morning. 

READ MORE: School bus, semi-truck crash in Mille Lacs County

Head-on crash avoided 

What they're saying:

The Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office said in a news release that the incident happened around 7:14 a.m. on Wednesday, Feb. 5, on Highway 169 just north of Shakopee Lake Road in Kathio Township.

Law enforcement said it happened when "the driver of the northbound semi-truck left his lane and came into the oncoming lane of the southbound school bus." 

The school bus driver, Brian Lathrop, then "made a quick maneuver" to avoid the crash, which the sheriff said "saved many lives." 

The bus was damaged by a "glancing sideswipe near the rear passenger side", according to the sheriff's office. 

Two students were reportedly checked out for minor injuries at the scene.

A total of four students and four staff members were on the bus at the time, according to the sheriff's office. 

What's next:

Officials say the semi driver was not arrested, but "will likely face some charges" stemming from the incident.

The cause of the incident is still being investigated by the Minnesota State Patrol. 

The Source: A news release from the Mille Lacs County Sheriff's Office and 

Road incidentsTraffic