Police from Allentown, Pennsylvania say that a bus driver who ran a red light and caused an accident that ended with the bus crashing into a house will be cited for the traffic violation.
The school bus, carrying five students at the time of the crash, was traveling east-bound on Walnut Street. The driver ran the light, which led to the bus colliding with a Toyota Corolla which was heading south on 9th street. After hitting the car, the bus driver lost control of the bus and crashed into the front porch of 848 Walnut Street, a house at the corner of the Walnut and 9th intersection.
All of the children on the bus were injured in the crash, as was the driver. One of the children, Branden Bretzik, was thrown into a window, giving him a head injury. Branden required five stitches in his head from the impact. All five students and the driver were taken to a local hospital, where they were treated and released.
Locals who saw the accident went running to the scene and helped out as best they could until paramedics arrived.
“It doesn’t make me happy. They’re not as careful as they should be. I know the bus driver; she’s usually very careful,” said Branden’s mother, Leeann Bretzik. “It’s not a call any mother wants to get.”
School bus crashes can be more dangerous than other crashes, because most school buses do not require the passengers to wear seat belts. This means that the students aboard are more likely to be thrown around during a crash.
According to police, the driver of the Corolla was 72 years old, and was uninjured. Police have not yet released the identity of the driver, and are still investigating the cause of the accident. There is no word on when the driver of the bus will be charged or face court proceedings.
