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0 of 3 Premium Clicks used this month SUBSCRIBE Print + Online Subscriber Activation | Register x Forgot Password | Need an Account? e-edition | subscribe | newsletter | deals Classifieds Jobs Autos Real Estate FEATURED » NEWS NOW Oregon lawmakers seek to avert corporate tax ballotmeasure ... Ashland schools superintendent announces resignation ... Linn County officials oppose Douglas fir monument proposal ... Oregon lawmakers seek to avert corporate tax ballotmeasure ... Ashland schools superintendent announces resignation ... Linn County officials oppose Douglas fir monument proposal ... PUBLIC SAFETY Car smashed into school bus, but no kids were on board Comment By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Mar. 3, 2016 at 9:22 AM Updated Mar 3, 2016 at 3:12 PM By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Mar. 3, 2016 at 9:22 AM Updated Mar 3, 2016 at 3:12 PM » Social News A car on Interstate 5 slammed into the back of an empty school bus while changing lanes and was dragged for about a half-mile Thursday morning, slowing northbound traffic to a crawl for almost two hours on the freeway. A man and a woman, driving in a Mazda sedan, were taken to a hospital after the crash, which mangled the front of the the car. Emergency Communications of Southern Oregon reported the crash at 7 a.m. just south of exit 27 in Medford. Oregon State Police Sgt. Jeff Allison said a preliminary investigation showed the Mazda's driver — it's not known whether it was the man or the woman — was driving in the fast lane and tried to squeeze into the slow lane between two school buses. The car rear-ended the lead school bus and got lodged there. “The driver of the first bus didn’t appear to realize there was an impact and continued for about half a mile with the car underneath the bus,” Allison said. OSP troopers at the scene said the driver was alerted to the crash after a co-worker in the bus behind him made contact. Both of the Mazda's occupants had to be extricated. The extent of their injuries is not known, but both were reportedly talking and alert. No students were on the bus, which was on its way to begin pick-ups. OSP troopers and Oregon Department of Transportation closed one lane near the crash, which jammed up northbound traffic back to Exit 24 in Phoenix. A second crash without injuries occurred nearby about an hour later near that exit, also in the northbound lanes. The sole vehicle involved, a pickup truck, was reportedly stuck in the fast lane for about five minutes before getting clear. Reach reporter Ryan Pfeil at 541-776-4468 or [email protected] . Follow him at www.twitter.com/ryanpfeil . By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil MailTribune.com By Ryan Pfeil Mail Tribune Follow @@RyanPfeil Posted Mar. 3, 2016 at 9:22 AM Updated Mar 3, 2016 at 3:12 PM » Comment or view comments Reader Reaction » STAY INFORMED Email NewsLetter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Southern Oregon Directory Featured Businesses Loading... Business Name address Location, ST | website.com Find Southern Oregon Attractions Bars Restaurants Beauty Salons Entertainment Doctors Medical Specialists Contractors Education Lawn Services Lawyers Shopping Travel Tanning Used Cars Wedding Services ▼ Add your business here + Events Calendar Connect with MailTribune.com Facebook Twitter RSS Back to top Reader Services Reader Services Home Subscriptions Subscriber controls Contact us Submissions Photos Events Letters to the editor Corrections Announcements Obituaries Story ideas Since you asked Alerts Email Alerts RSS Feeds Text Alerts Advertise Media Kit Home Products and services Ad rates Advertising contacts Propel Marketing Mail Tribune Daily Tidings The Nickel Shop Our Valley Blogs Mobile Site Stay Informed Email newsletter Sign Up Today Sign up for our newsletter and have the top headlines from your community delivered right to your inbox. Your privacy is important, read our privacy policy. © Copyright 2016 Local Media Group, Inc. All Rights Reserved. Privacy Policy | Terms of Service | Local Media Group Publications Original content available for non-commercial use under a Creative Commons license, except where noted. MailTribune.com | P.O. Box 1108, Medford, OR 97501