EVERETT, Wash. — Elementary students from Quincy had a memorable overnight trip to western Washington when they unexpectedly spent the night at an Everett school following a police shooting that shut down the highway.
Fourth-grade students from Monument and George elementary schools in central Washington had traveled to Seattle for the Quincy School District’s annual overnight field trip. They left the Pacific Science Center on Thursday at about 4:30 p.m. and began traveling on Interstate 5 to Padilla Bay National Reserve in Skagit County.
However, northbound I-5 was shut down in Everett for several hours Thursday evening after a Washington State Patrol trooper shot and killed a road rage suspect.
The school buses carrying students, parents and staff were trapped in gridlock for several hours, the district said.
The Everett Police Department escorted the buses out of traffic to Everett High School at about 11 p.m. The district said an Everett police lieutenant provided dinner for students and connected the Quincy staff to Everett Public Schools administration.
The students stayed at the high school overnight, and pictures shared by the district showed blow-up mattresses set up in the gymnasium for sleeping.
Quincy students stuck in traffic on I-5 after road rage shooting spend night at Everett High School
Accommodations were arranged for bus drivers so they would be well-rested for the return trip, according to the district.
Counselors with service dogs were on hand to assist students.
Everett High School Principal Kelly Shepherd arranged breakfast for students, parents and staff and provided coffee for the adults through the school’s student-run DECA store.
“The care and support they provided to our school community was remarkable and will not be forgotten by the Quincy community," said Quincy Superintendent Nik Bergman.