Lawrence students not injured in bus collision

Updated Oct. 12 at 5:30 p.m.

An Independent Coach school bus taking 14 Lawrence School District students to school Wednesday at approximately 9 a.m., and an MTA bus collided at the intersection of Central Avenue and McGlynn Place in Cedarhurst.

Another school bus and emergency medical technicians took the children and the driver of their bus to Nassau County Medical Center in East Meadow for precautionary examinations, Rivelli said, who noted that it appeared none of the children or the driver were hurt.

"There were no injuries to the students and the situation was handled professionally," said Lawrence Superintendent Gary Schall, who, along with several other district officials responded to the scene. By law, the students must be taken to a hospital after an accident, Schall noted.

By the time district officials, including Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum and Instruction and Number Four School Principal Dr. Ann Pedersen got to the scene, the pre-kindergarten children from that school were laughing, Schall said. "The bus driver, Joseph Pennel is to be commended for his actions," Schall added.

The children were picked up at the hospital by their parents. Independent Coach provided transportation to parents who couldn't get to the hospital on their own, Schall said.

However, 13 passengers of the MTA were also taken to a local hospital. Their injuries were not serious, but the driver suffered a fractured leg, Rivelli said.

The MTA bus was heading east on Central Avenue and the school bus was heading north on Locust Avenue and as the two vehicles crossed the intersection they crashed, according to Anthony Rivelli Jr., second deputy chief for the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department.

Emergency responders from Atlantic Beach, East Rockaway, Hewlett, Inwood, Meadowmere, Woodmere, Lynbrook and Valley Stream, along with Nassau County police responded to the scene.

Joseph Sperber, chief of the Lawrence-Cedarhurst Fire Department, was unable to respond to the scene but said he heard it was chaotic. "I've been to similar situations in the past and to pull up to something like that is very hectic," he said. "The magnitude of two large buses colliding with occupants on both buses and over 25 people having to be assessed by medical personnel."

Sperber said accidents involving buses are more common now that school is in session and devices, such as cell phones and iPods, are distracting motorists.

"These types of accidents don't happen often but it's always a possibility," he said. "I ask that drivers observe traffic devices such as stop signs and traffic lights and be aware of their speeds so accidents like this can be avoided."