Charges were filed against the driver who caused an accident involving a Marshalltown Municipal Transit bus transporting students from school on Monday.

The driver of the passenger vehicle, Reis Hauser, 43, was given three tickets for failure to obey a stop sign and yield to the right of way, failure to provide insurance and use of electronic communications device while driving.

“The driver of the passenger vehicle failed to yield and collided with the [front of the] bus,” said Marshalltown Police Department Captain Kiel Stevenson. “The bus was going east-bound and could not stop in time.”

The state of Iowa’s law prohibiting the usage of electronic communication devices while driving went into effect on Jan. 1.

Since then, Stevenson said MPD officers have been keeping an eye out for violations, but he did not know if more Marshalltown residents were staying off their phones.

“I think it’s still a major problem, people on their phones or devices while driving,” he said.

Using a phone or other electronic device while driving is considered a simple misdemeanor and is punishable with a maximum fine of $850.

Fortunately, the city bus accident, which occurred at the intersection of Third and Linn streets, did not result in any significant injuries and Stevenson described it as minor. Stevenson said he did not believe children were hurt beyond some bumps and bruises. The UnityPoint EMS service did respond and evaluated a few of the people who were on the scene. Stevenson had not heard of any parents who were anxious or concerned after the accident.

“It is a scary situation if your kid is involved in an accident,” he said. “But relatively, this was a minor accident and everybody is expected to be fine.”