HOMER TOWNSHIP, Saginaw County, Mich., Oct. 7, 2026 — A 27-year-old Midland man died after his car rear-ended a school bus Monday morning, October 5, on East Isabella Road (M-20) near North Homer Road, according to the Midland County Sheriff's Office. He was flown to a Michigan hospital after the crash and died there, investigators said.
The sheriff's office said the man was driving a 2024 Toyota Corolla westbound on East Isabella Road around 6:30 a.m. when it struck the rear of a 2026 International school bus. The bus driver, a 73-year-old Saginaw man, was behind the wheel at the time.
Emergency crews took the driver to MyMichigan Medical Center in Midland with injuries described as serious and life-threatening. He was later flown to University of Michigan Medical Center, where he died, the sheriff's office said.
Several people were riding the bus when the crash happened. Some reported minor injuries but turned down evaluation and treatment at the scene, according to the report.
Toxicology testing is pending and will help determine whether alcohol or drugs played a role, investigators said. The sheriff's office said a final report will go to the Midland County Prosecutor's Office once the investigation wraps up. Crews from the Homer Township Fire Department, MyMichigan EMS, the Michigan State Police Traffic Crash Reconstruction Unit, the Midland County Road Commission and Coles Wrecker Service assisted at the scene.
We extend our sincere condolences to the family of the deceased.
Where Rear-End Crashes With School Buses Tend to Happen
Rear-end crashes involving school buses cluster on roads where traffic moves fast and stops come up without much warning. Rural highways like M-20, where speed limits run higher and buses make frequent stops to pick up or drop off students, create a repeated mismatch: one vehicle slowing or stopped, another approaching at full speed with little time to react.
Low light and early-morning conditions add to the problem. Many school routes start before sunrise or in dim daylight, cutting down how far ahead a driver can see brake lights or flashing signals. Undivided two-lane roads make it worse still, since there's no shoulder or buffer to give a trailing driver extra room to brake or steer around a slowing bus.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, 971 fatal school-transportation-related traffic crashes occurred from 2014 through 2023. Many of these happen not at the bus stop itself but on the open road, in the seconds before a bus slows down or activates its warning lights.
Frequently Asked Questions
What should a driver do after rear-ending another vehicle?
Stay at the scene, call 911 to report injuries, and wait for law enforcement to document the crash. Avoid moving vehicles unless they're blocking traffic and it's safe to do so.
What injuries are common in rear-end collisions?
Whiplash, neck and back strain, and head or chest injuries from striking the steering wheel or dashboard are typical. Severity often depends on speed and whether seatbelts were in use.
How much does speed affect how serious a crash turns out?
Higher speed means more force at impact and less time to brake or steer away from a hazard. Even a modest increase in speed can turn a minor collision into one with serious or fatal injuries.
What to Do After a School Bus Crash in Homer Township, MI
If you're involved in or witness a crash involving a school bus, call 911 right away and stay back from traffic until help arrives. Try to check on children and other passengers if it's safe to do so, but let EMS handle evaluations, since injuries like concussions or internal strain aren't always obvious right after a crash.
Anyone involved, including bus passengers who feel fine at first, should consider follow-up care in the days after, since some injuries show symptoms later. It's important that you cooperate with responding officers and get a copy of the police report for your records. For families in Homer Township, reaching out to the school district can help clarify what support or communication is available for affected students and parents.
