By: centraljersey.com
UPPER FREEHOLD – State police said Thursday that a careless driving summons has been issued to a substitute school bus driver who crashed into a tree on Meirs Road last week, slightly injuring 11 Stone Bridge Middle School students.
The crash occurred at 8:04 a.m. Jan. 31 when the southbound bus carrying 21 students crossed over the centerline on Meirs Road and struck a tree, officials said. The driver, identified as 49-year-old Robert Driver, has been ticketed for careless driving, state police acting Capt. Frank Davis said.
Schools Superintendent Richard Fitzpatrick told the Board of Education at its Feb. 2 meeting that the accident occurred when the driver glanced down at paperwork to check where the next stop was, swerved, then "overcorrected" and struck a tree. He said Meirs Road is narrow to begin with, and the snow from recent storms had reduced the road’s width even more.
"Fortunately, there were no serious injuries," said Dr. Fitzpatrick, who was at the accident scene with Stone Bridge Principal Mark Guterl shortly after the crash occurred. The children who were hurt had mostly bumps and bruises, although one child required five stitches to close a leg laceration, he said.
There is no truth to the rumor going around school that one boy broke his arm, Dr. Fitzpatrick said. The child’s arm is in a sling, but it is because of a bruise, not a fracture, he said.
The state police said six children and the driver were taken by ambulance to CentraState Medical Center in Freehold where they were treated and released. Dr. Fitzpatrick said 11 children in all were checked out at the hospital.
"Many, many parents came to the scene," Dr. Fitzpatrick said.
Dr. Fitzpatrick praised the students who were on the bus for remaining calm after the crash and quickly evacuating the bus in orderly manner.
"Our students did exactly as they were trained to do," Dr. Fitzpatrick said.
After the crash occurred, a few students immediately went to the driver to see if he was conscious and asked him if he needed assistance using the bus radio to call for help, Dr. Fitzpatrick said.
"They were very responsible and extremely well-behaved," Dr. Fitzpatrick said. "It was the calmest accident scene you have ever seen in your life."
Dr. Fitzpatrick said he went to the hospital to be sure no child transported by ambulance would be alone during treatment. The superintendent said that when he got there, the charge nurse assured him all of the students had their parents with them so he was not permitted back in the treatment area.
The bus driver passed a field sobriety test "clean and clear," Dr. Fitzpatrick said.
A blood sample also was taken as is standard procedure after an accident of this type, and the results of that were not immediately available, he said.
The driver, who was treated and released from the hospital that day, is under the care of a workers’ compensation doctor and "won’t be driving … until we make a determination on his fitness for duty," Dr. Fitzpatrick said.
The damaged bus was towed from the scene, he said.