Family of student on bus that slammed into Irvington building speaks out

IRVINGTON (WABC) -- A school bus carrying special needs children crashed into a building in New Jersey Thursday morning, sending several to the hospital.

The accident happened on Springfield Avenue near the intersection of Sandford Avenue in Irvington.

14-year-old Bill won't tell you he is feeling any pain, but with a giant knot on his forehead, and cuts on his elbow and leg, he has to be pretty sore.

"I'm just happy my son is alive, and that's all I'm thankful for," says Bill's father.

Bill's parents are breathing a huge sigh of relief after the school bus, loaded with 9 teenagers with Autism careened through the intersection, slamming into the wall of a liquor store. 12 people, including all 9 children and both drivers wound up in the hospital. Some of them have head injuries, elbow injuries and leg injuries.

The driver reported that her brakes failed north of the intersection and she lost control, striking a Toyota Rav 4 that was traveling east on Springfield. The driver of the Rav 4 lost control of the vehicle and struck a light pole. The school bus continued on into a liquor store.

"Some kids were bleeding from their mouth, I think someone broke his teeth or something," witness Marie Shenouda said. "And then some their legs, mostly their legs, though a few kids, like about three kids, were screaming from the legs."

Shenouda said the bus driver was noticeably upset and kept repeating that her brakes gave out.

The school bus was heading to Mount Carmel Guild Academy in West Orange.

All of the victims were taken to hospitals, but police say none of the injuries appeared to be life-threatening. The SUV's driver was also treated for injuries that weren't life-threatening.

District officials say four students were transported to Beth Israel Hospital, while five went to the UMDNJ.

Eyewitness News did some digging on the inspection records for Horizon Link's buses. According to New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission results, Horizon Link's buses failed 96 percent of their initial inspections. That means that almost all of their buses that were inspected failed their first inspection and were put out of service. Buses are inspected every six months.

However, the inspection on the bus involved in the crash Thursday did pass its May inspection.