SUV collides with school bus in Lynbrook

An SUV collided with a school bus at the intersection of Scranton Avenue and Reyam Road in Lynbrook at approximately 8:40 a.m. on July 30, causing the SUV to overturn.

When Lynbrook police officers arrived on the scene, they found the SUV on its side and partially on the curb, in danger of completely rolling over on its top. A female driver was found lying on the bottom of the vehicle and trapped inside.

The Lynbrook Fire Department’s Extrication Team arrived on the scene, and, under the direction of First Deputy Chief Mike Hynes, immediately braced the vehicle. Tally-Ho Engine 423 was also dispatched to the scene and provided hose protection to the trapped driver.

Meantime, the Emergency Services Unit of the Nassau County Police Department arrived with two units. One unit was used immediately to chain the SUV so that it would not tip over while the firefighters and police officers were working.

Once the vehicle was secured, Lynbrook Ex-Chief James Hillgardner climbed through the back door and went to the aid of the driver, who was wearing her seat belt and was nearly hanging upside down. The driver’s legs were wedged under the steering wheel and her neck was pinned between the door and headrest. Hillgardner was able to move her head and place a collar around her neck with the assistance of Lynbrook Emergency Medical Company’s Lynn Curtis, who was outside the vehicle. Hillgardner also covered the driver’s body with his own as the firefighters and the ESU officers worked to cut off the roof. Firefighters and police officers were then able to free the driver’s legs, release her seat belt, and get her on a stretcher, where she was treated and stabilized by Nassau County EMS workers. She was then taken in a Nassau County police ambulance to the hospital. She was not believed to be seriously injured, according to a fire department spokesman.

No children on the bus were injured in the accident, and the bus sustained only minimal damage.