American Fork High School Bus Accident
A community came together this weekend to honor a music instructor who died trying to save a bus full of students. Heather Christensen, 33, was a woodwind instructor at American Fork High School. On Saturday, October 10, Christensen was in a bus with the award-winning American Fork marching band returning home from a competition at Idaho State University in Pocatello. Two miles north of McCammon, the driver of the bus passed out from a medical condition. Christensen grabbed the wheel of the vehicle to try and bring it under control. Unfortunately, the bus rolled over, and Christensen did not survive the crash. Fifty students were on the bus, along with two adults and the driver. Two students were airlifted to a hospital, and medical crews treated many students at the scene of the accident. Christensen was the only fatality.
On Sunday night, students, parents, and neighbors gathered in the gymnasium of American Fork High School for a vigil to the brave instructor. Hundreds of people, including Gov. Gary Herbert, packed into the gym to remember and honor Christensen.
Jana Hogenson, Christensen’s sister, was proud of her heroic actions.
“I talked to the girl that sight right next to her last night on the bus,” Hogenson said. “She said had it not been for (Christensen), a lot of them would have died.”
Christensen’s viewing will be held this Friday at the Anderson & Sons Mortuary (49 E. 100 North, American Fork) from 6 to 9 p.m. Another viewing will follow Saturday morning at the Alpine Tabernacle from 9 to 11:30.
We join Christensen’s family and friends, as well as the entire Utah community, in honoring Heather Christensen for her heroic actions.
