Staff/Wire reports

LAGRANGE - A trip to a band competition in Louisville ended abruptly for about 120 students from Campbell County High School Monday morning when two of the chartered buses they were traveling on collided near LaGrange on I-71.

There were no major injuries, said Melissa Pryor, the school and community relations director for Campbell County Schools.

Shortly before 10 a.m. the last in a line of three chartered buses struck the rear of the second bus in line as it tried to pass, said Pryor.

As a precautionary measure, 25 students were taken by bus to Baptist Southeast Hospital and were all treated and released, said Pryor.

Bystander uses phone to help catch suspect

COVINGTON - An observant bystander is credited with helping catch a car thief.

The person used a mobile phone to call police after a man stole a car from a gas station. Police said the owner of the car had left the keys in the ignition.

The bystander then followed the car across the Ohio River and directed Cincinnati officers to its location. When officers tried to stop the car, the driver sped back to Northern Kentucky. A car chase ended in Fort Mitchell when the driver surrendered to police.

John Saladin, 30, of Florence is charged with fleeing police, receiving stolen property and driving without a license.