Charlottesville student, adult injured in bus accident

An Albemarle County student and an adult were taken to area hospitals Friday morning with minor injuries after the bus they were in crashed in Madison County.

State Police spokesman Sgt. Les Tyler described their injuries as non-life-threatening and said no one else was hurt.

According to Tyler, three charter buses were transporting 121 students and adults from Baker-Butler Elementary School in Charlottesville for a field trip to Washington, D.C.

Tyler, who said there was heavy fog in the area at the time of the accident, said the buses were northbound on U.S. 29 around 7:30 a.m.

As they approached the Route 734 intersection, Tyler said, the first bus stopped at the red light. A 2008 Chevrolet Express van stopped behind the first bus.

The second bus pulled into the right lane. Tyler said the third bus failed to stop in time, clipping the left rear of the second bus, then striking the van. About 30 students and 18 adults were on the third bus and eight people were in the van.

No one in the van was injured. The student was taken to Culpeper Regional Hospital and the unidentified adult to U.Va. Medical Center in Charlottesville.

State Police, about 10 Madison County sheriff’s deputies, 20 firefighters, the rescue squad and personnel from the county’s emergency services department responded to the scene. Officials from VDOT were also called to assist with traffic management.

Tyler said the large response was called out after initial reports incorrectly indicated that all three buses were involved in the crash.

Tyler said the driver of the third bus, Samuel H. Richard, 61, of Farmville, was cited by Trooper S.E. Nelson for following too closely. The buses are owned by Lynchburg Bus Service Inc.

Tyler and Madison Sheriff Erik Weaver expressed praise and appreciation for all the volunteers, saying the situation was handled smoothly and professionally.

“It’s a group effort and our (emergency response) program we have here worked well,” Weaver said.

Tyler and Albemarle County Schools spokeswoman Maury Brown said the D.C. trip was canceled. The uninjured students and adults were taken by Madison County school buses to the fire department, then returned home by school buses dispatched from Albemarle County.

Brown said the student taken to Culpeper hospital was treated and released and that no information on the adult taken to U.Va was immediately available.

She also praised the students for their calm and mature behavior, despite that some had to wait inside one of the damaged buses while the while the fire department cut open the door.

“We are just so proud of them,” Brown said. “They are ready to go on to middle school.”