School Bus With Elementary Students Goes Missing, Prompts Search In Somerset County

WARREN, NJ — When a school bus full of students didn't arrive at an elementary school in Warren, it spurred a search to find the driver.

On Thursday, May 11 at 9:41 a.m., a Mt. Horeb Elementary School bus did not arrive at Mt. Horeb School at its scheduled time, said Warren Police Chief William Keane and Superintendent Dr. Matthew Mingle.

School officials immediately began working with the district’s transportation vendor and the Warren Township Police Department to find the bus.

The bus was found in a parking lot in Bridgewater. The bus driver suffered a medical incident that caused disorientation and as a result, the driver left Warren and pulled into the parking lot, said Keane and Mingle.

The parking lot was located at 1W Chimney Rock Road in Bridgewater, said Bridgewater Police Captain Kevin Tennant.

While pulling into that parking lot, the bus hit crashed into a trailer that was parked in the parking lot, said Tennant.

Bridgewater and Warren police officers, EMS, and school and district officials went to the parking lot and Mt. Horeb School Nurse Zanchelli checked all 20 students. There were no student injuries reported.

Students were put onto a new bus and taken back to Mt. Horeb School. Parents and guardians of students on this bus were able to pick up their children or talk to them after they returned to Mt. Horeb School.

"We are grateful for the professionalism and expertise of Warren Township and Bridgewater first responders and all of the school and district officials involved in responding to this situation," said Keane and Mingle.

School counselors and other staff were made available for students.

"We appreciate the care and concern of all of our students and parents involved in this incident," said Keane and Mingle.

The driver of the bus, an 80-year-old man, was possibly experiencing a medical emergency and was taken to Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital New Brunswick, said Tennant.

This crash is being investigated by Officer Joseph Greco. Any witnesses are asked to call 908-722-4111 ext. 4186.

For questions or concerns, contact the Mt. Horeb School main office for additional assistance.

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