Student dies in school bus crash as 23 suffer injuries on first day of school

22 August 2023 , 20:12

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Tragically one child died at the scene after being ejected from the bus (Image: WHIO TV 7)

A horrific school bus crash has left one student dead and 23 injured on the first day of school.

The elementary students were on their way to the first day of classes after summer break when a van veered from the left lanes into the bus on the Ohio State Route 41 on Tuesday morning.

Authorities said the driver had attempted to avoid the collision before before toppling to one side while 52 students were onboard, Sgt. Tyler Ross of the Ohio Highway Patrol said.. Ross said one child had died at the crash site after being ejected.

Of the remaining students, 22 suffered non-life-threatening injuries, and one suffered a serious injury. Thirteen children were taken to hospitals by emergency medical responders and 10 others were brought to hospital by family members or other personal means.

Sgt Ross said the bus was "loaded" with students and that there are no seatbelts for passengers aboard a school bus. He added the incident was "a tragic accident". The minivan was carrying a driver and one passenger, both of whom were rushed to Springfield Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries, Ross said.

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An aerial view shows the bus toppled to its side after veering from the road (WHIO TV 7)

The north-western district said classes at its campuses were to begin on Tuesday morning and a parent reunification centre was set up at a firehouse near the scene of the wreck as images appeared to show parents and members of the public gathering nearby.

Detailing the incident to reporters, Ross said that at about 8.16 am, a Honda Odyssey heading east veered left of centre and into the lane of the school bus, which was traveling west. The school bus operator tried to drive onto the shoulder to avoid the Honda, but the vehicles still made contact. The bus then went off the right side of the road and overturned, while the Honda went off the right side of the road and came to a rest.

The driver of the minivan was identified as Hermanio Joseph, 35, and his passenger as Roberto Mompremier, 37, both of Springfield, FOX19 Cincinnati reported.

One student was killed and over 20 other students were taken to area hospitals after a crash involving a school bus and minivan (WHIO TV 7)

Northwestern Local Schools in Springfield confirmed one of its buses was involved in a crash and said parents could reunite with their children at German Township Firehouse. Students began their first day of school Tuesday, according to the district’s website.

Federal law requires three-point seat belts on small school buses, but it’s up to individual jurisdictions to decide whether to require them for larger school buses. After a 2020 school bus crash killed two people, including a seven-year-old child, the National Transportation Safety Board called for all school buses, regardless of size, to be equipped with lap and shoulder seatbelts.

Abigail O'Leary