5 Students Hurt As School Bus, Commercial Van Collide In Vernon

VERNON, CT — Five children aboard a school bus were injured in Vernon Thursday afternoon in a collision with a commercial van, town officials said.

Both vehicles appeared mangled at the scene.

In all, five of the six children aboard the school bus, the school bus driver, and the driver of the Ford commercial van were taken to area hospitals after the accident at the Route 83-Pleasantview Drive intersection, town officials said.

The injuries were being described as non-life-threatening.

Police were called to the scene at about 3:35 p.m. and found the the van with heavy front-end
damage and the bus with driver's side rear damage, including a shattered window. First responders immediately went to work checking the children aboard the bus and the
drivers, town officials said.

Route 83, from Dobson to Pitkin roads, was closed as police, firefighters, and EMTs handled the scene.

The road was back open and clear of debris shortly after 5:30 p.m.

The school bus was carrying children from Vernon's Skinner Road School. Principal Bryan Kerachsky went to the scene to comfort students and followed some of them to a hospital.

Superintendent of Schools Joseph Macary went to Hartford HealthCare's Rockville Hospital Campus and Connecticut Children's Medical Center to check on students and meet with families.

The collision is under investigation, and Vernon police ask that any witnesses call them at 860-872-9126.