Three school buses were involved in a Prince George’s County auto accident on the afternoon of Monday, March 19.
Classes had recently let out for the day at Frederick Douglass High School in Upper Marlboro, and the buses were taking several of the students home around 3:45 p.m.
A line of buses approached a stop sign in the 7600 block of Croom Road near the high school. The first two buses stopped, but, for reasons still unknown, a third bus driver failed to stop in time to avoid the other two.
The third bus rear-ended the second bus, which in turn rear-ended the first bus. None of the buses were traveling very quickly.
There were a total of 75 students riding on the three buses. Fire and emergency personnel on the scene evaluated each of the students for potential injuries.
There were no serious injuries, but several students did complain of sore necks and backs. A total of 34 students were taken to a local hospital, all with minor injuries.
The buses sustained minor damages too, according to Briant Coleman, spokesperson for Prince George’s County Schools.
The Prince George’s County Police Department is still investigating the cause of the accident, including why the third bus driver failed to stop.
More than 1,000 students attend Frederick Douglass High School, which is located near Route 301.
School bus drivers employed by the district must hold a commercial driver’s license with both passenger and school bus endorsements. To get those endorsements, they must undergo rigorous training that includes defensive driving techniques and safety procedures.