Woodward bus windows broken after game in Mich.

2/26/2006

RIVER ROUGE, Mich. - Slight injuries were reported aboard a bus carrying Woodward High School basketball players and coaches after the bus was vandalized following a game last night at River Rouge High School, officials said.

The bus driver called Joe Kahl, the district's transportation director, about 9:30 p.m. to report the incident. Several windows on the bus were broken as the bus was getting ready to leave, said Dan Burns, chief business manager for Toledo Public Schools.

The River Rouge Police Department refused comment last night.

River Rouge is about 50 miles northeast of Toledo and just southeast of Detroit.

Mr. Burns, Mr. Kahl, and two security officers were awaiting the return of the bus at Woodward.

"My first priority is to board the bus [and] make sure everybody is OK," Mr. Burns said. "The security officers will board with me, then start our investigation."

At least two parents waiting at Woodward for the team bus told Mr. Burns that they received cell phone calls saying that some players were injured by glass.

Mr. Burns did not know how the windows were broken or whether the bus was moving at the time.

"We won't know that until we have a chance to investigate," Mr. Burns said.

Varsity and junior varsity basketball teams traveled to River Rouge High School, he said.