A black sedan and a Mountain Empire Unified School District bus collided shortly before 3:40 p.m. on Friday, November 6, 2026, near State Route 94 and Plaskon Lane in Potrero, according to Cal Fire. The sedan’s driver died at the scene. Thirty-five Potrero Elementary School students were on the bus, and two children and the bus driver suffered minor injuries and were taken to local hospitals by ambulance. Officials initially declared a mass casualty incident.
FOX 5 San Diego & KUSI News reported that the California Highway Patrol responded and is investigating the cause, and that the school district says it is cooperating fully. The identity of the sedan driver had not been released, and the cause of the crash has not been reported. NBC 7 San Diego also reported the crash as a fatal car versus school bus collision under investigation. The district said counselors will be available to students and staff when school resumes Monday.
