Ontelaunee, PA - October 11: Yellow school busses parked in the lot. At the Berks County Intermediate Unit (BCIU) Transportation Services facility in Ontelaunee Township, PA Monday morning October 11, 2021. (Photo by Ben Hasty/MediaNews Group/Reading Eagle via Getty Images)
On Wednesday (Sept. 6), 52 students and two drivers received medical attention after a head-on collision between a school bus and a tow truck. There have been no reported deaths. However, as of yesterday afternoon, two students were still reportedly hospitalized.
The accident occurred in Luzerne County at approximately 8 a.m. local time, per Pennslyvania State Police Captain Patrick Doherty. Media footage from the scene shows the school bus with a crushed front.
Police reportedly believe the tow truck driver suffered a medical issue that caused him to swerve into oncoming traffic and hit the bus. The investigation is still ongoing.
The flat-bed tow truck driver is reportedly 28-year-old Edward Steinmann. The bus driver is 53-year-old Suzanne Ent. Both drivers received treatment for “moderate” injuries, per WNEP.
Another bus transported approximately 49-52 students from the collision scene to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center. The bus involved in the crash was carrying 54 students total, per the New York Post.
As mentioned, the hospital admitted four students, while others reunited with family and caretakers, per WNEP. Media reports have said students sustained only minor injuries. It’s unclear if the two hospitalized students remain there as of Thursday.
When the accident occurred, the bus driver was en route to the second day of school for kindergarten through 8th-grade learners at Bear Creek Community Charter School.
Following the incident, the school’s CEO, Jim Smith, released a statement via press about the matter.
“I’d like to thank the professional staff here at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center, who rallied an enormous number of resources together to not only render aid to students but comfort to staff as well as parents and families who arrived on scene,” Smith said.
Officials reopened the crash site, Route 115 near Laurel Run Road in Bear Creek Township, yesterday by noon local time.
It’s unclear if the school bus driver or tow truck driver will face legal consequences.
There are no additional updates at this time.
