(09/28/06) SPARTA ? Sixteen Hopatcong High School students and two adults were taken to the hospital Thursday when their school bus collided with a dump truck in Sparta.

The incident occurred around 9:30 a.m. where Route 181 meets Sparta Avenue. The bus, filled with 10th and 11th-graders, were on their way to Sussex County Vo-tech for a school trip. Eyewitnesses say the dump truck ran a red light and plowed into the bus. According to police, the driver admitted to running a red light prior to the accident. Police say the collision was almost a head-on hit.

Seven students complained of bruises and pain. All of the students were taken to the hospital as a precaution, treated and released. The driver suffered a broken ankle and head cuts. A teacher sustained a broken leg, bruises and cuts. All of the parents have been notified about the accident.