A school bus full of students returning from a Crayola Factory, Easton, field trip collided with a car on Route 222 in Richmond Township at about 1:55 p.m. Wednesday, April 16.
Russell Kaufman, 54, Owings Mills, Md., was traveling southbound on Route 222 By-Pass when he slowed to allow traffic to merge on southbound Route 222 from the Kutztown Road on-ramp. William Stevens, Jr., 56, Bernville, driving an Eshelman Transportation school bus, was unable to avoid striking the rear of Kaufman’s slowing vehicle. Both vehicles were moved onto the shoulder.
There were no serious injuries reported. All 23 students on a field trip for Reading Muhlenberg Career & Technology Center were transported to area hospitals for evaluation as well as three adult passengers. Several were treated for minor injuries, according to Fleetwood Police Chief Steven Stinsky.
The car was occupied by Kaufman and his wife and adult daughter, both of which were transported to an area hospital for medical evaluation, according to the Fleetwood Police release.
The southbound lane of 222 was reduced to one lane for about 50 minutes and reopened around 3:10 p.m.
Assisting at the scene were Fleetwood Police, Virginville Fire Department, Fleetwood Fire Police, and multiple ambulance companies. Patients were transported to Reading Hospital, St. Joseph’s Medical Center and Lehigh Valley Hospital.
Kaufman drove his vehicle from the scene. The school bus was driven from the scene by Eshelman Transportation maintenance personnel after some brief maintenance.
Charges for applicable traffic offense are pending completion of the investigation and evaluation of witness statements, according to the release.
