DENVER — Five students were hospitalized after a stolen SUV crashed into a school bus Thursday afternoon, the Denver Police Department said.

The crash happened just before 4 p.m. at West 39th Avenue and Tejon Street in northwest Denver.

There were 39 students from Denver Montessori Junior and Senior High School on the bus.

Five of the 18 who were injured were taken to Denver Health Medical Center with nonlife-threatening injuries, while 13 others were treated for bumps and bruises at the scene of the crash. The bus driver was also treated for minor injuries.

“They are shaken up because this is a very traumatic thing for them, but physically most of them are OK,” police spokesman Sonny Jackson said.

One child in the suspect vehicle was taken to Denver Health in critical condition, and one child and one adult were transported in serious condition.

Police said an officer saw the stolen SUV near West 38th Avenue and Navajo Street. The SUV sped off, ran a stop sign, hit another passenger vehicle, then slammed into the bus.

Firefighters needed to use the Jaws of Life to remove one of the passengers in the stolen vehicle.

The driver of the stolen vehicle is in custody. Police said it was part of a burglary investigation.