A 17-year-old Benton City boy suffered possible internal injuries after he crashed his minivan into a school bus Tuesday afternoon.

The teen, whose name was not released, was said to be in serious condition and was taken by ambulance to Kadlec Regional Medical Center in Richland.

Four Kiona-Benton City High School students were on the bus at the time and one suffered a wound near his eye, said Benton County sheriff's Deputy Joe Lusignan.

The injured student also was taken to Kadlec. The bus driver was not hurt.

The crash happened about 2:30 p.m. at the intersection of Horne Road and Irene Avenue.

The teen was driving a green Ford Windstar and hit the bus after he pulled onto Horne Road from Irene Avenue, Lusignan said.

The van veered into the bus' lane and collided with the side of the bus, he said. The impact crushed the front driver's side of the van.

The crash remains under investigation, but preliminary information suggests the teen did not see the school bus because he was distracted and looking at students near the road, Lusignan said.

The teen also reportedly was not wearing his seat belt.