2 drivers hurt, no students injured on Route 896 in New Castle County, Delaware after crash involving school bus
Two drivers were injured after a crash involving a sedan and a school bus in New Castle County, Delaware, on Wednesday morning, authorities said.
First responders were dispatched just after 8 a.m. to the crash at Route 896 (Summit Bridge Road) and Brennan Boulevard, according to the New Castle County Paramedics.
The driver of the sedan, an 18-year-old woman, was trapped inside the car and pulled free after fire department crews "performed an extensive extrication" that lasted nearly two hours, NCCP said. The woman was flown by a state police helicopter to a hospital and placed in critical condition.
"The car was wrapped around the guardrail, so it took a lot of people from a lot of different fire companies a long time to remove her," Asst. Chief Brandon Speakman, of the Christiana Fire Company, said. "She was conscious throughout, and we were able to talk to her during the entire incident."
At one point, the school bus was on top of the driver's car. Officials said a driver with Betts Garage, a tow truck company, was driving past the area at the time and helped first responders pull the bus off the car.
"It's a miracle, it looks like it just went around her," James Perdue, with Betts Garage, said. "It's one of those things you never know what you're pulling up to."
The crash injured the 75-year-old bus driver, who was taken to a hospital in stable condition.
Officials said 14 students, ages 14-17, were on the bus at the time, and luckily none were injured.
The Appoquinimink School District posted on Facebook that the crash involved a bus that was transporting students to Appoquinimink High School.
In a statement sent to CBS News Philadelphia, Superintendent Matt Borrows said:
"We are so grateful to first responders and local law enforcement for all of their efforts today. Additionally, we want to acknowledge the many individuals who were near the accident and stepped in to help. We are thankful no students on board the bus were injured. Our thoughts and prayers are with the bus driver and the other driver involved as well as their families."
"Our crisis teams are on site at Appoquinimink High School to offer support. We have provided resources to the families who had students on the bus as well as resources to our staff who work with our students," Borrows continued. "In addition, our district utilizes SafeDE which is another tool for our students and staff to share their needs with their school directly. We'll continue to provide this ongoing support as needed."
Delaware State Police is investigating what caused the crash.
