Car accident leaves 1 dead, several students injured

A driver is dead and several students were taken to a local hospital following a crash involving a car and a bus.  The car accident could have been much worse, according to New York authorities, but the toll was high enough as it was.  The cause of the crash is still under investigation. 

Apparently, a 55-year-old driver was traveling along Route 7 in a car on the morning of Oct. 21 when his vehicle crossed the double line and entered the opposing lane. The car struck a school bus carrying 26 students to school, somewhat ironically considering the accident happened the same week as National Bus Safety Week. The bus driver has been praised for his quick action in attempting to avoid the accident altogether, without which authorities say the crash could have been much worse. 

The car driver was killed on impact, and two students suffered minor injuries inside the bus.  Thankfully, none of the students were killed in the accident. Police are still investigating the cause of the crash at the time of this report and have not yet publicly commented on any factors they believe may have contributed to the accident. 

If the evidence suggests that the driver of the car was in any way responsible for the car accident, the families of the injured children may be entitled under state law to file personal injury suits against the man’s estate. While their injuries were described as minor, injuries sometimes manifest chronic problems later, especially in the case of children.  Parents would make such a case in a New York civil court. 

Source: albany.twcnews.com, “Principal Rides Bus to School Following Fatal School Bus Crash in Pittstown“, Maria Valvanis, Oct. 22, 2014