A collision between a school bus and a tow truck on Route 115 in Luzerne County, Pennsylvania on Wednesday, September 6, led to the hospitalization of 49 children and two adults.
On that fateful Wednesday morning around 8:10 am, the school bus, transporting 54 students ranging from kindergarten to eighth grade to Bear Creek Community Charter School in Wilkes-Barre, was involved in an accident. The Pennsylvania State Police later confirmed this at a press briefing.
Bear Creek Community Charter School CEO Jim Smith, in an update later that afternoon, said four of the hospitalized children remained under care for their moderate injuries. Suzanne Ent, 53, who was driving the school bus, and Edward Steinmann, 28, the tow truck driver, were both hospitalized, suffering from moderate injuries.
State police Captain Patrick Dougherty, in a briefing, indicated the possible reason for the accident. He mentioned that the tow truck driver might have experienced a medical emergency, causing him to swerve into the path of the school bus. This crash resulted in both vehicles experiencing severe front-end damage, with photographic evidence taken at the scene supporting this.
Medical professionals at the accident scene promptly attended to the students. The majority were released to their guardians, but some required transportation to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Hospital for further care.