A bus accident in southwest Utah's Santa Clara sent four middle school students to the hospital with minor injuries on Friday morning.

The crash happened around 7:20 a.m. when a pickup truck ran a red light and slammed into a school bus carrying about 50 students near the intersection of Santa Clara Drive and Lava Flow Drive, said Santa Clara Deputy Police Chief Ken Campbell.

Four students suffered cuts and bruises during the collision and were taken to Dixie Regional Medical Center for observation, Campbell said. The students -- all 11 and 12-year- olds who attend Lava Ridge Intermediate School -- were released by Friday afternoon.

The driver, a 21-year-old man from the St. George area, told investigators he was distracted by his cell phone when he ran the red light, said Utah Highway Patrol spokesman Cameron Roden.

The driver was cited at the scene for careless driving and equipment violations, Roden said, adding the incident blocked the roadway for about 40 minutes.

Another bus came to pick up the rest of the students at the accident scene and they were taken to school.