Shot hits Utah bus with passengers aboard; no one hurt

FRUIT HEIGHTS, Utah – A commuter bus and a semitrailer travelling on a Utah highway were accidently hit when someone fired a series of shots from a nearby peach orchard early Monday morning, police said.

No one was hurt, but officers are still trying to determine who opened fire five to 10 times, said Ty Berger, chief deputy at the Davis County Sheriff’s Office. The bus and semitrailer were struck by one bullet each.

Investigators don’t think the shooter was aiming at the vehicles because the shots were fired from within a peach orchard full of thick, tall trees that would have prevented the shooter from seeing U.S. Route 89 where the bus and semitrailer were travelling, Berger said.

The bus was taking commuters to Salt Lake City when the bullet went through one of its windows near Fruit Heights, about 20 miles (32 kilometres) north of Salt Lake City.

Utah Transit Authority spokesman Carl Arky said 12 passengers were transferred to another bus to finish the route.

The semitrailer hauling cement dust was hit once in its trailer.

Berger said whoever the shooter was “could have been in there just shooting critters or plunking at a tree.”

“It’s just one of those safety tips: If you’re going to discharge a weapon, know what you’re shooting at and know what’s beyond it to avoid this,” Berger said.

Police started investigating after neighbours near the orchard reported being awakened by shots before sunrise and some called 911.

“It’s disconcerting to a quiet neighbourhood,” Berger.

The peach orchard sits among a residential neighbourhood and is next to U.S. Route 89.

Shae Ramirez said she awoke to three loud pops that her fiance told her was gunfire. She said it’s not normal for people to be shooting in the peach orchard, which abuts her house.

The events put her on edge as she helped her two children get up and ready for school.

“I’ve been nervous all morning,” said Ramirez.

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Associated Press writer Lindsay Whitehurst in Salt Lake City contributed to this report.