Several young children were injured on the morning of Monday, May 7, 2012 when the school bus on which they were riding was hit from behind.
A school bus with Prince George’s County Public Schools was taking young children to Oxon Hill Elementary School in Fort Washington when the accident occurred. According to police reports, there were 24 students on the bus at the time of the accident.
The school bus was driving near the intersection of Indian Head Highway and Palmer Road in Fort Washington when a white van owned by Southern Maryland Cable came up behind the bus around 8:15 a.m.
For reasons unknown, the driver of the van smashed into the back of the school bus and then ran off the road and crashed into a tree. The driver, who has not been identified yet, was trapped inside the vehicle until local firefighters responding to the scene of the accident could rescue him.
The driver of the van, an adult male on his way to a job site for Southern Maryland Cable, was rushed to the hospital by helicopter with serious injuries. He is now listed in stable condition.
The driver of the school bus and twelve students also were taken to a local hospital with minor injuries.
Prince George’s County Police still are investigating the crash. It is unknown what caused the accident or if speed of either vehicle or alcohol were factors.
The Maryland auto accident attorneys at Nickelsporn and Lundin wish a speedy recovery to the drivers of both the van and the school bus, as well as to the twelve students.