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BY MICHAEL OLOHAN
OF NORTHERN VALLEY PRESS
ENGLEWOOD, NEW JERSEY—A school bus accident on June 21 in Englewood left 33 people—including 25 children—with minor injuries when it was rear-ended by an SUV while returning from a field trip.
The crash occurred at Knickerbocker Road and West Hudson Avenue about 4 p.m., according to Englewood Police. The school bus was sponsored by the Korean Community Church.
The crash follows a May 17 school bus accident on Route 80 westbound involving a Paramus East Brook Middle School bus that killed a teacher and 10-year-old student, and injured 43 when the driver attempted a U-turn on the busy highway.
Thursday’s crash resulted in minor injuries, said Englewood Police Capt. Timothy Torell. He said 20 children and two adults were taken to Holy Name Medical Center emergency room in Teaneck and all were reported in stable condition. Many children on the bus complained of dizziness, Torell said.
The SUV driver, a 51-year-old from Paterson, and the school bus driver, a 45-year-old woman, were both taken to area hospitals, police said.
A few hours prior to the Englewood bus crash, another school bus in Wanaque collided with a Jaguar on Route 287. Fortunately, only two people were on the bus coming from a high chool graduation in Wanaque. No injuries were reported, said New Jersey State Police.
Increased attention has focused on school bus drivers and students’ safety since the May 17 fatal accident, with a number of lawsuits already filed against the Paramus school district and bus driver since then.
In addition, lawmakers are now considering legislation to upgrade school seat belt requirements, enhance training and regulations on drivers, add to safety of special needs students, and possible age limits for drivers.
The Paramus bus driver, Hudy Muldrow, 77, of Jersey City, was charged with two counts of vehicular homicide following the accident. A court appearance is scheduled June 25. Muldrow has worked for Paramus Board of Education for 34 years. He faces up to 20 years in prison on the two charges.
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