East Rockaway school bus hits curb

A school bus transporting 22 students from Rhame Avenue Elementary School to East Rockaway’s after-school program at Centre Avenue Elementary last Friday afternoon hit a high curb, causing some students to be ejected from their seats, according to John Piccarella, director of curriculum and technology for the district.

The East Rockaway, Rockville Centre and Oceanside fire departments sent rescue squads to Centre Avenue to await the bus, according to an ERFD spokesperson. When it arrived, the children were medically evaluated, and four of them were determined to need further medical attention. They were put in ambulances and rushed to South Nassau Communities Hospital.

Not all of the children were wearing seat belts, Superintendent Roseanne Melucci said, but the bus is equipped with belts — although the law does not mandate wearing them on vehicles that meet the school safety standards. “That being said,” Melucci said,”we take student safety very seriously and will take advantage of this as an opportunity to review bus protocol and to review instruction on the use of seat belts.”

According to Melucci, the bus driver made a routine turn but hit the curb, which jostled the children in their seats. One girl fell out of her seat, and others reported that they had hit their shoulders and heads. There was a matron riding with them on the bus.

The parents of all the children on the bus were called, Melucci said, and an electronic message about the incident was sent to the entire community,

Staff members accompanied the four children who were taken to the hospital until their parents arrived, and all four were soon released.

Centre Avenue was blocked from Clarke Street. one block east of the school, to the Long Island Rail Road station, one block west.

“I want to thank the Police Department, the Fire Department and the staff for reacting so quickly,” Melucci said. “One of the social workers was in the building and stayed to make sure the children were OK. She also went in an ambulance with one of the children. Everyone onsite pitched in to assist. We’re grateful that everyone acted as quickly as they did …”

Melucci added that she called all four families on Saturday to follow up, and that all four children reported for school on Monday.