RCS News

Sept. 10 Accident Results in Minor Bus Damage, No Passenger Injuries

(Sept. 10, 2012) Shortly after 7 a.m. on Monday, Sept. 10, Coeymans Police, Coeymans Hollow Fire Company and the Ravena Rescue squad responded to an accident on State Route 143 in Coeymans involving an RCS School bus, two passenger cars and a pickup truck. None of the students on the bus or the bus driver received any injuries from the accident. A student riding in one of the passenger vehicles was treated at the scene for a minor head injury. He was not transported to the hospital by ambulance, but was subsequently brought in for treatment by his parents.

“A motor vehicle accident involving district students, particularly a school bus, is certainly a frightening incident,” said Superintendent Elisabeth Smith. “We are extremely grateful that those involved walked away safely, and we thank our bus driver and response teams for following proper safety procedures and responding with urgency to ensure the welfare of our students.”

According to a report from the Coeymans Police Department, RCS bus 279 was stopped in front of a residence to pick up middle and high school students; the driver of the bus had activated the red lights while stopped, as required by state law. While the driver was waiting for the students to board the bus, a passenger car failed to stop in time and came in contact with the rear end of the bus.

Shortly after the initial collision, two other vehicles approached the accident. The first vehicle was able to stop in time, however, the other car did not, and struck the rear of the stopped car, initiating a chain reaction and sending the stopped vehicle into the rear of the first car, which was then driven into the rear of the bus. The driver of the first vehicle was ticketed for following too closely. It was reported that the glare of the morning sun played a role in causing the accident.

Immediately following the incident Monday morning, Middle and High School Principals Pamela Black and Brian Bailey personally contacted the parents of all students riding bus 279.

While the three passenger vehicles sustained significant damage and appear, according to the police report, to be total losses, the school bus sustained minor damage to the rear bumper and was driven away.

“This accident once again shows that school buses are designed to protect our children,” said Coeymans Police Chief Gregory Darlington. “While all three passenger vehicles were severely damaged, neither the bus nor the students on it sustained any significant damage or injury”