NEAR ADAMS, Minn. (KTTC) -- The Minnesota State Patrol has identified both victims of the crash that killed one person and critically injured another after a car collided with a school bus near Adams.
It happened on Highway 56 near County Road 5 at about 3:30 p.m. Wednesday.
The Minnesota State Patrol said the driver of the car, Tess Landherr, 16, of Rose Creek, was killed.
Her passenger has been identified as Anna Bruggeman, 15, of Rose Creek. The State Patrol says she suffered serious injuries in the crash.
An 8-year-old girl on the bus was taken to the hospital with minor injuries. Authorities said 50 students were on the bus.
"We transported students to our fire hall where they were all checked by EMS services and released to the parents," Adams Fire Department First Assistant Chief Curt Sheely said in a live interview on KTTC NewsCenter Wednesday.
Crisis counselors from the Austin School District are helping students at Southland Schools, where Landherr was a student.
Ethan Riggin, a social studies teacher at Southland, knew Landherr for six years.
"The mood in class today was somber, very sad. Most of the students here are in a state of shock. You hear about these things on the news and don't think it's going to happen here and when it does you're surprised," Riggin said.
"Tess was a wonderful young lady. She was vibrant and excited about things. She always seemed to have a smile on her face. She loved to dance. She just had an energy, an exuberance," Riggin said.
Because of the tragedy, the Southland School District has cancelled tonight's Dance Team Awards Banquet.
Southland students are encouraging those attending Friday night's girls basketball tournament game in Mankato to wear yellow in memory of Tess.
We'll have more on how the school and community are reacting to the tragedy, tonight at 5 and 6 on KTTC NewsCenter.
Tess Landherr
