This week in Spokane, Washington, a suspect in a stolen BMW struck a 10 ton school bus hard enough to flip and mangle the vehicle. No kids were onboard and no serious injuries were reported, but images shared by local firefighters and police demonstrate the mind-blowing force of the crash.

The frightening crash occurred on the morning of Monday, November 22.

The Spokane County Sheriff’s Office details exactly what happened:

The Spokane County Sheriff’s and Spokane Valley Deputies responded to a vehicle crash involving a school bus in the intersection of E. Wellesley and N. Kenney Road Monday morning. The bus, occupied by the driver only, was flipped on its side after being struck by a stolen BMW. The suspect fled on foot and was arrested later in the day.

The bus driver did not appear to be injured but was transported for additional treatment due to the severity of the crash.

After locating and arresting the suspect, 30-year-old Jeffrey S. Schelin, it was learned Schelin had been arrested twice in the last two weeks (11/07/21 Warrant for Burglary 2nd Degree, Malicious Mischief 2nd Degree, and 11/20/2021 Possession of a Stolen Vehicle) only to be released by the courts on his own recognizance.

On November 22, 2021, at approximately 8:30 am., Spokane County Deputy Kauffman responded to the area of the 5100 block of N. Tiara Ct. for the report of a suspicious male. Deputy Kauffman arrived in the area, and as he drove past Tiara Ct. on Queen, he observed an unknown male, later identified as Schelin, leaning into the backseat of a white BMW.

Deputy Kauffman continued on Queen and turned around as he checked the license plate with dispatch. While waiting for the return, he observed the BMW turn east on Queen. He began to follow the BMW, noticing it turned south on Kenney. When Deputy Kauffman turned on Kenney, he was delayed by an SUV and lost sight of the BMW. Deputy Kauffman was then advised, the license plate (BMW) had just been reported stolen. Still behind the SUV, Deputy Kauffman approached the intersection of Kenney and Wellesley and noticed the school bus lying on its side in a yard on the southeast corner of the intersection.

He advised dispatch and other patrol units via his radio of the crash. He contacted the bus driver and learned that no children were on the bus. Although the driver appeared to be uninjured, medics were requested. The stolen BMW had traveled further into the yard and crashed through a chain-link fence. Several people at the scene stated the driver (Schelin) fled the scene on foot to the east. Schelin’s description was provided to responding Deputies and Liberty Lake Officers who began searching the area, but he was not located.

Spokane County Traffic Unit Investigators and Washington State Patrol Troopers responded to assist.Through the subsequent investigation, Schelin was identified as the possible suspect.

Later in the day, at approximately 1:30 pm., a homeowner in the 21100 block of E. Wellesley called 911 to report an unknown male was tapping on her back door and that she believed it was possibly the hit and run driver, Schelin.

Deputies responded and arrested Schelin, who was injured in the crash. He was transported to a hospital for additional medical treatment. It was determined Schelin was driving at a high rate of speed and ignored a stop sign before plowing into the school bus in the stolen vehicle.

He hid in a shed at the residence, where he was arrested, before attempting to contact the homeowner. Schelin faces new charges of Possession of a Stolen Vehicle, Burglary 2nd Degree, Hit and Run, Reckless Driving, and Driving while Suspended. Schelin, who has a lengthy local criminal history, was arrested twice in the last two weeks (11/07/21 Warrant for Burglary 2nd Degree, Malicious Mischief 2nd Degree, and 11/20/2021 Possession of a Stolen Vehicle) only to be released by the courts on his own recognizance.

Photos shared by the Spokane Valley Fire Department and the Spokane County Sheriff’s Office show the serious damage done to both vehicles in the crash.