More police patrols on Route 40 after school bus almost hit by tri-axle truck
Drivers traveling Route 40 west of Glyde in South Strabane and Amwell townships should expect more police presence, especially during the mornings and afternoons, after a tri-axle truck nearly struck a school bus carrying students from Trinity East Elementary School last week.
South Strabane police Chief Donald Zofchak and Dale Lyons of Schweinebraten Bus Co. agreed that it would have been a disaster if a speeding tri-axle had not swerved into the opposite lane of travel to avoid striking the rear of the eastbound school bus that was stopped after dropping off an elementary school student at the end of a driveway near Anderson Drive. Lyons said the stop is around a slight turn.
“There was a truck in sight when the bus driver put on his eight-way amber lights on top of the bus and four-way flashers as he approached the bus stop,” Lyons said. “The next thing the driver knows, the tri-axle came up from behind and is skidding alongside of the bus before coming to a stop. The driver, who had already dropped off the student, hit the gas as he saw the approaching truck.”
Lyons said 12 students were still on the bus.
Zofchak said it was fortunate no other vehicles were approaching on the westbound side of the road.
Lyons and Zofchak said the tri-axle left more than 300 feet of skid marks that start in the eastbound lane of Route 40 and continue onto the westbound side.
The bus driver was not able to get a description or license plate on the truck, telling Lyons that a driver and passenger were inside the vehicle. After coming to a stop, the driver of the tri-axle pulled back behind the school bus as it continued out Route 40.
Lyons, who contacted Zofchak after the incident last week, said this was the second near-miss at the same bus stop in the last month. In the earlier incident, the driver of a tanker hauling residential water swerved to the right to avoid the bus.
“I called the company and told them what happened,” Lyons said. “The woman who answered the telephone said the driver should be commended for avoiding the crash. But he had to have been moving.”
Earlier this school year, a truck going in the opposite direction almost hit a vehicle that had stopped for the school bus.
“In my 36 years with the company, we have had about six buses hit between there and Kopper Kettle Road,” Lyons said. “Most have been passenger vehicles or pickup trucks that don’t fare well when hitting a school bus.
“That bus stop has been used for about 40 years over the generations,” he added, saying that it is also a stop for a bus going to Trinity Middle School.
Zofchak said he has directed township police officers to increase patrols in the area when students are being picked up in the morning and dropped off in the afternoon. Lt. John Kean, patrol section supervisor for state police Troop B, said troopers have been asked to increase patrols in the area between 3 and 4 p.m.
Zofchak said he also contacted Washington County Coroner Tim Warco, who agreed to check that stretch of road.
Lyons had a message for drivers, particularly those behind the wheel of large trucks.
“Slow down and pay attention,” Lyons said. “Trucks just fly on that road. Even with the slight curve, there is plenty of sight distance that they should be able to see the stopped bus and stop. The trucks had to be moving.”
Zofchak agreed.
“This certainly has raised some eyebrows and given us cause for concern,” the chief said.