Montclair School Bus Crash Update: No Students Injured, Summonses Issued

MONTCLAIR, NJ — No serious injuries were reported after a school bus and a passenger vehicle collided in Montclair on Friday morning, sending the bus careening into a utility pole and fire hydrant, authorities said.

According to the Montclair Police Department, the bus had 14 students and a driver aboard at the time of the accident.

Police said the crash took place at 9:06 a.m. at the intersection of Park Street and Wildwood Avenue, while the bus was headed to Hillside Elementary School.

“At this time, there are no serious injuries reported,” Montclair police said Friday morning.

The driver of the school bus was transported to a nearby hospital with non-life-threatening injuries. There were no injuries reported by any of the students, authorities said.

The Montclair Public School District issued a statement about the crash on Friday afternoon. Administrators wrote:

"At 9:08 a.m. today we were informed that Bus No 610 on its way to Hillside was involved in an accident at the corner of Park Street and Wildwood [Avenue]. Everyone who needed medical attention received it by first responders and families and caregivers were notified. Hillside nurse and administration were on scene to assist. Emergency medical personnel have confirmed that no children were transported to the hospital; however, some families on site reported that they would take their children to doctors for follow-up. Unfortunately, an ambulance on scene took both the bus driver and aide to the hospital. We are appreciative of the quick response of the Montclair Police and Fire Departments, Emergency Responders, MPS Transportation Department, Hillside Nurse and Administrators, District Administration, and especially the safety measures taken by the bus driver. We will be following up with our families throughout the day."

MONTCLAIR POLICE: SUMMONSES ISSUED

The Montclair Police Department released an update on the crash, confirming that there were no injuries reported to any of the students and none were transported to the hospital. The accident remains under investigation.

According to authorities:

“Montclair police responded to the intersection of Park Street and Wildwood Avenue on a report of a motor vehicle accident involving a school bus. Preliminary investigation indicates that the driver of a 2008 Toyota Rav 4 (operated by an 85-year-old male from Belleville) was driving west on Wildwood Avenue when it entered the intersection with Park Street and struck a school bus, which was travelling south on Park Street.”

Here’s what happened next, police said:

“After the initial collision, the school bus (operated by a 54-year-old female from Haledon) mounted the western curb, struck a utility pole and a fire hydrant before coming to rest. At the time of the collision, the bus was enroute to the Hillside School (elementary school in Montclair located at Hillside Avenue and Orange Road) and was occupied by 15 juvenile students as well as an aide.”

The Montclair Fire Department, Montclair Ambulance Unit and EMS units from Glen Ridge, Bloomfield and Cedar Grove also responded to the scene. In addition, representatives from Hillside School, including the school nurse, were also present.

Montclair police continued:

“All students were assisted off of the bus safely and each student was evaluated by EMS. There were no injuries reported to any of the students and none were transported to the hospital. Each student was released to a parent on scene. The school bus aide (60-year-old female) sustained a swollen knee and was transported by ambulance to Clara Mass Medical Center in Belleville. The driver of the bus complained of head, neck, and back pain and was transported by ambulance to St Joseph’s Hospital in Paterson. The operator of the Toyota Rav 4 complained of pain to his head, neck, and back and was transported by ambulance to Mountainside Hospital. His passenger (24-year-old male) also complained of shoulder and head pain and was transported to Mountainside Hospital by ambulance.”

Both vehicles were towed from the scene, and PSE&G responded to replace the damaged utility pole, authorities said.

The driver of the Toyota was issued two summonses for Failure to Stop/Yield and Careless Driving.

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