Mapletown students injured in school bus crash recovering
MAPLETOWN – The two Mapletown Junior-Senior High School students taken to the hospital by helicopter after two school buses collided Tuesday afternoon are both recovering, Southeastern Greene Superintendent Richard Pekar said Wednesday.
Pekar said he could not release the names of the students nor discuss the extent of their injuries.
He said he talked to the parents of the two students, who were both taken to Ruby Memorial Hospital, Morgantown, W.Va. Pekar said he believed one of the students was released while the other remained hospitalized as of Wednesday morning.
Three other students were transported to the hospital by ambulance following the crash. In addition, seven others were taken to the hospital later by parents to be checked, he said. All of those students were treated and released, Pekar said.
The crash occurred at 3:12 p.m. on Mapletown Road, a short distance from the high school.
State police said a bus operated by Amy Lea Powell, 42, of Waynesburg struck the rear of a bus traveling in front of her operated by Margaret Kovalcheck, 59, of Dilliner.
Trooper Lucas Borkowski said Kovalcheck slammed on the brakes when two “large dogs” ran across the road. Powell was unable to stop in time and struck the rear of the other bus.
“It was a pretty large bump to send people (in the front bus) forward,” Borkowski said.
Both drivers are employed by Zalar Busing Inc. of Waynesburg, which is under contract with the district.
There were 46 junior-senior high school students on both buses, Borkowski said.
Volunteer fire companies from Greensboro, Bobtown and Carmichaels assisted at the scene. Southwest EMS also assisted passengers.
“All of the agencies that responded did a great job in handling the situation,” Pekar said.
All day Wednesday, Pekar said, he heard concerns expressed about the students injured in the crash from people in the community.
“We really appreciate everybody’s thoughts and prayers,” he said.