Unlicensed teen driver behind wheel in head-on school bus crash in New Castle, police say

Thursday, April 27, 2023

3 teens critical after head-on crash between car, school bus

Police say an unlicensed 16-year-old was behind the wheel of a vehicle that crashed head-on into a school bus in Newcastle on Wednesday.

NEW CASTLE, New York (WABC) -- Police say an unlicensed 16-year-old was behind the wheel of a vehicle that crashed head-on into a school bus on Wednesday afternoon, leaving several people injured.

Fox Lane High School was still reeling Thursday from the crash that left three students fighting for their lives.

The collision happened just after dismissal around 2:15 p.m. on Lake Road near Crow Hill Road in New Castle.

The preliminary investigation revealed that the 16-year-old driver had three passengers in the car and was traveling southbound on Lake Road when the vehicle lost control while rounding a curve.

The Honda Accord then crossed into oncoming traffic and struck the bus from the Yorktown School District.

All four people in the vehicle were taken to Westchester Medical Center with life-threatening injuries. They were later said to be two 16-year-old boys and two 17-year-old boys.

Police say the boys were on their way back from attending trade classes at Putnam/Northern Westchester BOCES campus.

A nurse who happened to be a few cars back helped extricate the teens. Three of the four remain in critical condition and are being treated for devastating injuries including bleeding on the brain, broken legs and collapsed lungs.

Two male students on the school bus were 15 and 17 years old and they were both treated and released. A 69-year-old male bus monitor was also treated and released.

The 62-year-old female bus driver and a 48-year-old female monitor are both still being treated for non-life-threatening-injuries.

Bedford Central School District's crisis team was working with students on Thursday.

"Obviously we're very concerned, but we're hopeful that the students do well and we're going to continue to send that positive energy, and so the mood is a little subdued from a normal day but we're trying to carry on as normal," Bedford Schools Superintendent Robert Glass said. "We put a plan into place to support everyone, we're a very supportive community, our message is that we're pulling for these students and we're here for each other and we're here to support one another through a very difficult time."

The Yorktown School District released the following statement:

"Our thoughts are with all those affected by Wednesday's accident. We look forward to a speedy recovery for our students, driver, and monitors. At this time, the District is unable to comment further as this remains an open police matter."

The investigation remains ongoing.

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