A ConVal school bus carrying middle and high school students crashed into a guardrail Monday morning, a result of poor road conditions.
ConVal Superintendent Kimberly Saunders said Monday afternoon that no students were injured in the accident, which occurred in Hancock, but the bus was a little late in getting to the middle and high school.
“I think some of the middle schoolers were a little more freaked out,” said Lily Denehy, a junior from Hancock. Denehy was one of about 12 students on the bus. “The high schoolers were contacting their parents and hanging out, playing on their phones. Everyone was a little freaked out.”
Police responded to Bonds Corner Road in Hancock early Monday morning for the accident.
Denehy said the bus driver was attempting to go up the hill after picking someone up, and the bus ended up sliding. The bus driver tried again after being stuck, eventually striking the guard rail.
“I could tell there was no way we were getting up that hill,” said Denehy, who said it was about an hour before she and her fellow students were picked up by a second bus.
Police Chief Andrew Wood said the bus was bound for the center of town when it lost traction, slid down the hill, and hit a guard rail on the opposite side of the road.
The bus sustained a flat tire and damage to its right side. “It wasn’t a tap, it was more of a clunk,” said Denehy, of the impact.
Student Transportation of America is the company that provides transportation to the ConVal school district. Calls to Student Transportation of America were not returned by press time.
Saunders said any delays or cancellations for a school day must be made before 5:15 a.m., which is when the school buses depart for the day. Saunders said a district team analyzes the road and weather conditions for a given day, with Saunders having the final say.
Nicholas Handy can be reached at 924-7172 ext. 235 or nhandy@ledgertranscript.com. He is also on Twitter @nhandyMLT.