Bus Crash In East Hartford From High School In Bridgeport

EAST HARTFORD, CT — State police early Tuesday morning revealed added details regarding a school bus accident in East Hartford Monday afternoon that snarled traffic for hours.

While none of the injuries were believed serious, police said 17 of 29 occupants — most from Bridgeport, one from Stratford and several without police-identified hometowns— were taken to area hospitals with multiple injuries after the 1:19 p.m. crash.

According to police, the bus — which was owned by We Transport LLC out of Bridgeport — was traveling on Interstate 84 west to the Route 15 south exit ramp in the right lane of two in East Hartford.

WVIT Channel 30 has reported that the bus originated from Kolbe Cathedral High School in Bridgeport, a private Catholic school.

The passengers, according to police, were all 17 or 18 years old.

Police said the operator of the bus, identified as Tonya Altha Felton, 35, of Stratford, lost control while negotiating a left-hand curve, police said in an accident report.

The bus, police said, slammed into a concrete barrier on the right shoulder, then crossed both lanes of traffic and hit a concrete barrier on the left shoulder, before coming to a rest in the left shoulder.

Passengers injured were taken to three Hartford hospitals and one Manchester hospital, police said.

State police said five passengers were taken to Hartford Hospital; six passengers were taken to St. Francis Hospital; three to the Connecticut Children's Medical Center; and three were brought to Manchester Memorial Hospital in Manchester.

In addition, Felton, the driver, did suffer "possible injuries," police said, and she was transported to Hartford Hospital.

As part of the accident investigation, Felton was cited by police for failure to drive in the proper lane and was deemed at fault for the crash.

No other vehicles were involved, police said in the report, but the exit ramp was closed for several hours.

From Dec. 12: 'Update: I-84 Ramp Crash Involving School Bus Prompts Lane Closure'

For the full WVIT Channel 30 report, click on this link.

For Connecticut State Police news and the full accident report, click on this link.