Distracted driving may have played a role in the May 20 school bus crash on Cedar Street Extension, according to the Hopkinton Police Department’s deputy chief.
The bus, which was heading to Hopkinton Middle School and Hopkinton High School that morning, struck a telephone pole. This led to downed power lines that rested just above the roof of the bus and in the roadway, leading to a temporary street closure while students were safely evacuated. No injuries were reported by the 32 student passengers, who were evaluated by school nurses and paramedics at the middle school after another school bus transported them there.
The May 20 police log stated that there also was a gasoline leak.
“Evidence suggests the driver may have been momentarily distracted, drifting to the shoulder of the roadway and unable to regain control before crashing into the telephone pole,” HPD Deputy Chief Scott van Raalten stated Thursday in an emailed response to inquiries from the Independent. “We do not believe he was using an electronic device prior to the crash.”
Added van Raalten: “There is no evidence to suggest that the bus operator was under the influence.”
“The investigation, based on witness statements, operator interviews, and bus video, does not suggest speed or mechanical issues as factors,” the deputy chief stated.
Since 2021, there have been 20 crashes involving school buses, van Raalten noted after reviewing HPD records. He noted that this number “may also include non-town-contracted buses.” He did not supply information beyond that time frame.
Van Raalten was unable to release the driver’s record under Criminal Justice Information Services laws. CJIS is a division of the FBI that provides information services to support law enforcement agencies at the federal, state and local levels.
In an email to the Independent Thursday afternoon, HPS Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh confirmed that the district uses Michael J. Connolly & Sons to provide school bus transportation.
No information was given to the Independent about whether there has been parental outreach over the accident, school bus safety or aftereffects that may have been experienced by the passengers.
According to the HPS website, there are three bus routes that serve Hopkinton students. One transports them to the middle and high schools. Another goes to the Elmwood School, while a third travels to the Marathon and Hopkins elementary schools.
“We partner with Connolly Buses to serve approximately 3,400 students, traveling a total of nearly 229,386 miles per year,” the website shared. “Buses cover 136 routes every day, through the 28.2 square miles of Hopkinton.”
The Independent reached out via email and phone to the Michael J. Connolly & Sons bus company Wednesday and Thursday to learn if the driver had been reprimanded but did not receive a response.
According to its website, the family-based company has offices in Natick and Walpole, where there are trainers on-site. Its sole focus is school bus transportation. It has operated for 82 years and serves 14 school districts.
“Connolly Bus operates a new fleet of over 300 full size school buses, all route buses are four years old or newer, insuring the latest and safest technology for our school districts,” the website states.
According to the company’s Facebook page, the Hopkinton district won a pizza party from the bus company as part of a monthly school district competition. It was celebrated on May 23.
The company also has posted multiple times about available driver positions.
Each year school bus drivers are required to attend a pre-determined number of hours of safety training classes. Does this company, Michael J. Connolly & Sons pay for safety hour training as required by law?