Shippensburg school bus involved in multi-vehicle crash
SOUTHAMPTON TOWNSHIP - Students were on board a school bus Friday morning, Nov. 9, when it was struck by an SUV just south of Shippensburg borough.
Shippensburg Area School District's bus 76 was in the 8000 block of Olde Scotland Road (Pa. 696) when the SUV struck its back end. The crash happened around 7 a.m. in front of Maplewood Farm Market, just west of Interstate 81 Exit 24, according to West End Fire and Rescue.
The bus was on its route picking up middle- and high-school students at the time.
Photos posted on the fire company's Facebook page show a large black SUV with significant front-end damage and a bus with damage to its rear driver's side corner. Photos also show a car that appears to have rear-ended the SUV.
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Story continues below Facebook post.
In an email to parents, the school district said no students were harmed. Arrangements were made to get all students to school. The district said the crash would likely cause a short delay in getting secondary, and possibly elementary, students to school.
Student recently hit by car near bus stop
Less than a month ago, a Shippensburg Area Senior High School student was hit by a vehicle while crossing the street to reach a bus stop.
Tai'Yonne Taylor, a sophomore at the high school, was crossing in the 400 block of East King Street near Kenneth Avenue at about 6:47 a.m. on Oct. 24 when a westbound vehicle hit him, according to Shippensburg police. He was injured and taken to a local hospital, then was transported to Hershey and underwent leg surgery.
Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Pennsylvania State Police and Pennsylvania Department of Education recently hosted an initiative to promote school bus stop safety.
Students should follow these safety tips at the bus stop:
- Get to the bus stop five minutes early, to avoid having to run across the road to catch the bus.
- Stay away from traffic while waiting for the bus to arrive
- Line up at least five giant steps away from the curb or road to wait for the bus
- Never run after the bus if it has already left the stop.
- Never push when getting on or off the school bus.
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Several kids killed at bus stops
Recent weeks have been deadly year for children at bus stops. Five children were killed in three incidents on three consecutive days, Oct. 30 through Nov. 1.
Three elementary-age siblings were killed Oct 30 after being hit by a vehicle as they were about to get on their school bus in Indiana, according to USA TODAY. Another student was seriously injured.
The next day, a 9-year-old boy died after being hit by a truck while he was crossing a street to board a school bus in Mississippi, CBS reported.
Tragedy came to Pennsylvania on Nov. 1, when a 7-year-old boy was found dead at a bus stop in Huntingdon County. Police believe a driver ran over the child at a low speed, WTAJ reported.
PennDOT, PSP and the PDE recently promoted the state's School Bus Stopping Law. 2017 saw 747 convictions for breaking the law, up by 17 from 2016.
“We unfortunately saw more people breaking the School Bus Stopping Law last year so we’re reminding motorists of its importance,” said PennDOT Secretary Leslie S. Richards. “With additional challenges such as darkness coinciding with more of our students’ school bus ride times and the distraction of the quickly approaching holiday season, it is important that motorists remain vigilant while sharing the road with school buses and students,”
More:Police log: Police stop drunk man stumbling toward school bus stops
More:Former school bus driver accused of groping female students in central Pa.
The law requires motorists approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended, to stop at least 10 feet from the bus. This applies to motorists approaching from any direction on a non-divided highway. A motorist is not required to stop when approaching a bus that is stopped on the opposite side of a highway that is divided, with something such as a concrete barrier or grassy median.
Those caught disobeying the law face a $250 fine, five points on their driving record and a 60-day license suspension.
“But worse than these penalties, a tragedy could strike if either a driver or a student is not paying attention to their surroundings," said Capt. Robert Krol, assistant director of the Bureau of Patrol for PSP.