49 Students Taken to Hospital After Head-On Crash Involving School Bus and Truck in Pennsylvania

Nearly 50 students were taken to the hospital Wednesday morning following a head-on collision between a school bus and a tow truck in Pennsylvania.

Based on preliminary information, police said the flat-bed tow truck was heading northbound when the driver seemingly experienced a “medical issue.” The truck then crossed into oncoming traffic and struck the bus.

The students, who experienced mainly minor injuries, were headed to the Bear Creek Charter School for their second day of school at the time of the crash, police said during the news conference.

A second bus was brought in to transport them from the crash site in Bear Creek Township to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Doherty said.

The drivers of both the school bus and the tow truck sustained “moderate injuries” and were transported to the same hospital, he added.

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Jim Smith, CEO of Bear Creek Community Charter School, toldThe New York Postthat four students remained in the hospital as of Wednesday afternoon after sustaining moderate injuries.

“Although this is an unfortunate event, we are grateful that there were no serious injuries,” Doherty said at Wednesday’s press conference. “We wish everyone a speedy recovery.”

School officials “immediately” began contacting families of students involved in the crash and began the reunification process, according to the PSP captain.

“We are blessed with a phenomenal level of cooperation among all entities, and that showed today,” the CEO added.

Multiple good Samaritans assisted at the scene of the crash, according to Doherty, who thanked them for their efforts. He thanked the responding agencies for their work at the scene, as well.

An investigation into the crash is ongoing, the captain said.

source: people.com