School bus strikes bridge in Powhatan Point
Driver, 2 students transported to local hospitals
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POWHATAN POINT -- Two students and a driver were taken to local hospitals after a school bus accident on Monday.
Powhatan Point Fire Chief Josh Cooper said the accident occurred close to noon at a bridge on Mellott Street. He said the bus was from the Switzerland of Ohio Local School District and it took about two hours to clear the wreckage.
"A school bus hit a bridge," he said. "(We just) evaluate people and wait 'til the tow truck got there. ... The parents came to get (the students who were on board)."
Fire Chief David Lenz of OR&W Fire District, Shadyside, said his department also responded.
"From what we understand, the driver ... was bringing some kids from the school -- they're in the JVS up there -- and they were doing some work in the marina in Powhatan. Well the bus came down, they'd already been there and I guess they were coming back again after lunch. The bus came down Mellott Street. There's a very low bridge there, a railroad bridge, and he went underneath of the bridge, so there was major damage to the bus. The whole front end of the bus was smashed. They did take him (the driver) to the hospital with minor injures.
"There were six children on the bus, and I think they took two to the hospital, just to be checked out," Lenz said. "The parents were there. They're the ones that say whether or not they want them to go" to the hospital.
"I'd say the bus was totaled. He just wasn't familiar with the area. He hadn't been down here before,"Lenz said of the driver. "He actually drove the bus underneath the overpass and came all the way back down to the Powhatan marina again. I don't know how he drove it. ... You'd think he'd stop."
Lenz said the students were still on board when the but arrived back at the marina, about 100 yards away from the accident scene. He added that the bus was towed back to Switzerland of Ohio facilities.
On Monday afternoon Switzerland Superintendent Phil Ackerman said he was responding to the news and prioritizing the safety and well-being of the students involved.
"At this point in time, I don't have all of the details on everyone," he said. "I think we had two students that were transported as precautionary measures to be checked out. ... I'm still waiting on confirmation of their condition. ... I believe the driver was transported but has been checked out and been released with some minor injuries."
He added the district has been notifying parents.
"The students are with one of our career programs at the career center and they were in that area in Powhatan doing some work," Ackerman said, adding the project could have been at the marina or at Switzerland's Powhatan Elementary School. He said the students were chiefly juniors and seniors.
"These types of activities are what our career programs do. They're working on projects that are related to their trade and their curriculum."
At this point, Ackerman declined to speculate about possible causes of the accident.
"I'll be talking with my transportation director (Monday) evening to find out more about that," he said, adding he did not know the circumstances that led to the accident. "We've been busy this afternoon just making sure our students are being cared for, their families are being notified. ... I think anytime there's an accident of that nature, it's certainly not normal."
Ackerman said there was no disruption of services and said the district will continue normal operations despite being down a bus.
"I've seen the bus and the bus certainly is not going to be able to be used currently," he said. "You can replace buses. ... Our main concern is the health and welfare of our students and our drivers."
The Powhatan Point Police Department could not be reached for comment.