News File Photo A school bus appears in this 2021 News archive photo.

ALPENA ― A crash sent three children to the hospital as a precaution when a vehicle hit a school bus shortly before 7 a.m. Tuesday in Alpena Township.

The 63-year-old driver of a 2014 Ford passenger vehicle was partially blinded by the sun and was rubbing his eye when he rear-ended the bus, which was stopped at a railroad crossing near the intersection of Werth and Piper roads around 6:40 a.m., police said.

Of the four Alpena Public Schools students onboard the bus — an Alpena-Montmorency-Alcona Educational Service District bus driven by Dean Transportation, contracted by AMA-ESD to provide transportation for students with special needs — paramedics transported three to MyMichigan Medical Center, the service district said in a news release.

The students experienced bruising and sore muscles but no serious injuries. Two students were released to parents shortly after arrival at the hospital, while the third child was released a short time later, the AMA ESD release said.

Police ticketed the at-fault driver — who was also transported to the hospital for medical evaluation — for failure to stop.