A school bus on the way to school Tuesday morning struck a telephone pole on Cedar Street Extension, downing power lines and closing the road but apparently causing no serious injuries.
In an email to the Independent late Tuesday morning, Hopkinton Deputy Police Chief Scott van Raalten confirmed that students were heading to both Hopkinton Middle School and Hopkinton High School at the time of the crash.
The accident was reported to the HPD and the Hopkinton Fire Department at 7:26 a.m., according to a joint statement released by van Raalten, HPS Superintendent Carol Cavanaugh and Fire Chief Gary Daugherty. HFD dispatched an engine and one ambulance, along with Daugherty and Deputy Chief Scott Jurasek, who arrived within five minutes of receiving the call.
Van Raalten and four officers arrived within three minutes of the call. Cavanaugh and Lynn Webster, the school bus dispatcher, also were at the scene at that time.
“Thirty-two students and the driver were inside Bus 35 when it crashed into a telephone pole, causing power lines to fall and rest just above the roof of the bus,” according to the statement. “Fire and Police personnel quickly assessed the situation and determined no life-threatening injuries.
“Due to the proximity of the downed power lines to the bus roof, all students were required to remain onboard until the power could be safely de-energized,” it continued.
Eversource responded to a priority request and was able to de-energize the power lines at 8:49 a.m. Students were safely evacuated from the bus and transported via another school bus to Hopkinton Middle School, where they were evaluated by school nurses and paramedics.
“Only minor injuries were reported, if any at all,” according to the statement.
Van Raalten confirmed via email that there were no serious injuries.
Students were either released to class or dismissed to their parents, depending upon their individual preference.
The crash remained under investigation, and no immediate charges were filed.
Cedar Street Extension remained closed as Eversource worked to replace the pole and restore power to the area.
Please write a follow up story on the cause of this accident. There are so many unanswered questions. The kids on the bus are lucky they weren’t fried from the power lines.
Ever since that bus company went through a “management change” a few years ago no one seems to know who the real owner is. They hire riff raff carnie types now; everyone knows that. I wouldn’t let my son or daughter ride the bus.
Was the driver DUI? This company has a bad reputation.
The company has a bad name really check your facts accidents happen for the most part kids get to school and home everyday safely what about all the cars that go through stop signs or don’t pay attention bus drivers get no credit at all but are always the bad guys but how about they are always there for your kids and deserve a thank you or good job think about that
Why did it take Eversource 1.5 hours to respond? Leaving the children and driver trapped on the bus for this length of time is unacceptable!
How