NJ School Bus Crash: Growing List Of Frightening Mishaps In 2018

At least three buses caught fire, for inexplicable reasons. In two incidents, the bus drivers themselves rescued the children before emergency personnel got there.

Last week's crash in Morris County that killed a teacher and a student was not the only recent accident that's raised serious questions about school bus safety. At least six incidents have happened in 2018 that seemingly put children, and their drivers, at risk (see incidents below).

Lawmakers are now asking for hearings as school bus accidents in New Jersey appear to be on the rise again. In 2016, the state had its biggest percentage increase in school-bus-related crashes since the U.S. Department of Transportation started publishing those statistics in 1994 (see data below).

Sen. Joseph Lagana, D-Paramus, has called for legislative hearings on school bus safety in New Jersey, asking that the Senate Transportation Committee convene a special meeting to analyze safety standards and to review “best practices” for preventing accidents and to compare New Jersey with other states.

“This is the worst nightmare for parents and teachers,” said Lagana. “Our hearts go out to the families of the student and teacher who lost their lives and to everyone who is part of the East Brook Middle School community. This is a tragedy that touches us all. As we come together to support those in need, we must also begin the steps to ensure a tragedy like this does not happen again.”

A 77-year-old man who was involved in another crash, had his license suspended twice and was cited eight times for speeding was identified as the driver in Thursday's fatal school bus crash that killed two people and injured more than 4o. The driver of the bus, who was reportedly trying to make a U-turn, collided with a dump truck on I-80 in Mount Olive. Read more here...

Sen. Patrick Diegnan, the chairman of the Senate Transportation Committee, said that he will schedule the committee for a public hearing.

“When parents send their children off to school in the morning they need to know that everything possible is done to ensure their safety,” said Diegnan. “We will review every aspect of this accident to determine what went wrong and what can be done to ensure the safety of each and every school bus in every community in New Jersey. This is a shared responsibility that we all take seriously.”

Besides the I-80 tragedy, here is what has happened so far this year:

School Bus Caught Fire In NJ As Students Safely Evacuated

A school bus caught fire in New Jersey this week, forcing 10 children on board the bus to evacuate, police said. The bus driver is being credited for helping lead the children to safety.

Police said the school bus caught fire while it was driving to Blairstown Elementary School in Warren County on Monday morning. Read more here....

Student, Aide Rescued From Burning Bergen School Bus: Police

A quick-thinking school bus driver saved the lives of two people after their bus caught fire in January.

The bus was traveling north on Knickerbocker Road when he noticed smoke coming from the bus' engine, said Cresskill Police Detective Charles Franke. The driver pulled to the side of the road and he and two occupants, a student and an aide, got out. Read more here...

Bus Catches Fire At West Orange School On Way To Track Meet

A bus caught fire in front of a West Orange school in April, but no students or staff were harmed, authorities said.

According to an alert from the West Orange Public School District, a charter bus from The Mayor Bus Company caught fire at Liberty Middle School. The bus was set to transport students to a track meet at the time of the conflagration, but nobody had boarded the vehicle, officials said. Read more here...

5 Students Injured Following Montgomery School Bus Crash

Five students were injured after a Montgomery Township School bus crashed into a car in March, police reported.

Tthe school bus, driven by Susan Cruser, 64, of Skillman, was transporting 44 Village Elementary School students when it approached the intersection of Main Boulevard and Burnt Hill Road. Cruser was turning left onto Burnt Hill Road and hit a sedan driven by Sandra Chytraus, 63, of Ewing, Montgomery Police reported. Read more here...

Crash With Car Sends School Bus Into Tree In Lakewood: Police

A school bus skidded off the road into a tree following an accident in Lakewood in March, Lakewood police said.

Detective Sgt. LeRoy Marshall said there were four students on the bus at the time of the accident, which near New Central Avenue and Miller Road in Lakewood. Read more here...

School crash data since 1994 from the U.S. Department of Transportation:

1994

• Crashes: 691
• Vehicles: 1,011
• Persons: 1,814

1995

• Crashes: 719
• Vehicles: 1,091
• Persons: 1,851

1996

• Crashes: 754
• Vehicles: 1,157
• Persons: 2,037

1997

• Crashes: 700
• Vehicles: 1,074
• Persons: 1,865

1998

• Crashes: 671
• Vehicles: 1,030
• Persons: 1,753

1999

• Crashes: 664
• Vehicles: 1,000
• Persons: 1,715

2000

• Crashes: 659
• Vehicles: 1,052
• Persons: 1,749

2001

• Crashes: 681
• Vehicles: 1,079
• Persons: 1,850

2002

• Crashes: 698
• Vehicles: 1,043
• Persons: 1,799

2003

• Crashes: 664
• Vehicles: 1,045
• Persons: 1,768

2004

• Crashes: 684
• Vehicles: 1,082
• Persons: 1,883

2005

• Crashes: 690
• Vehicles: 1,057
• Persons: 1,842

2006

• Crashes: 709
• Vehicles: 1,086
• Persons: 1,877

2007

• Crashes: 674
• Vehicles: 1,005
• Persons: 1,722

2008

• Crashes: 555
• Vehicles: 808
• Persons: 1,383

2009

• Crashes: 550
• Vehicles: 829
• Persons: 1,442

2010

• Crashes: 530
• Vehicles: 801
• Persons: 1,180

2011

• Crashes: 586
• Vehicles: 877
• Persons: 1,415

2012

• Crashes: 553
• Vehicles: 819
• Persons: 1,286

2013

• Crashes: 508
• Vehicles: 750
• Persons: 1,157

2014

• Crashes: 523
• Vehicles: 789
• Persons: 1,170

2015

• Crashes: 521
• Vehicles: 755
• Persons: 1,118

2016

• Crashes: 569
• Vehicles: 833
• Persons: 1,232

Read More:

• Was School Bus Trying To Make Illegal U-Turn Before Rt. 80 Crash?
• Truck Company In Fatal Bus Crash Was In 8 Crashes In 2 Years
• Teacher, Student Confirmed Dead In Paramus Field Trip Bus Crash
• Memorial Created At East Brook Middle School Following Deaths
• Paramus Student Recounts Chaotic Bus Crash Scene
• Community Starts #ParamusStrong Hashtag In Wake Of Fatal Crash
• Paramus District Cancels Trips Following Fatal Crash

Photo courtesy of Bob Halberstadt, Blairstown News