Bus without its driver knocked onto front lawn, crashes into house

A driver has been flung from her seat and her bus sent crashing into the side of a house after it was struck on the side by a four-wheel-drive.

The driver's seatbelt clasp snapped in two when her bus was hit by the offending car in Janesville, Wisconsin, earlier this month.

Footage from security cameras on the bus has been released in a bid to clear driver Dinah Rhodes, 69, who her boss said had no ability to control the vehicle after it was hit.

The video shows the terrifying seconds when Ms Rhodes is left sprawling on her back as the bus speeds across a front yard and crashes into the side of a home.

A photo shows how the seat belt buckle failed.

"Obviously, under the circumstances, she didn't have the ability to control the vehicle," City Transit director Dave Mumma told the Janesville Gazette.

"There was no visible evidence of previous cracking or bending of this piece.

"The manufacturer is also investigating why this particular unit, which is a replacement of the original seat belt in this bus, failed in service."

Ms Rhodes and the driver of the four-wheel-drive, Carol Fuelleman, were taken to hospital to be treated for injuries, and a male passenger on the bus injured his hand.

Ms Rhodes is expected to return to work soon.

Ms Fuelleman is accused of failing to give way.