GATES MILLS, Ohio — A Geneva Area City School District bus crashed into two vehicles Tuesday afternoon just before 4 p.m. on Mayfield Road in Gates Mills.
Police told 3News the bus crashed into an SUV before that SUV subsequently hit into a pick-up truck with a utility trailer. The SUV spun out across the median to the other side of the road, while the truck and trailer jack-knifed and the bus hit it as well.
Gates Mills police determined that the driver of the school bus failed to maintain an assured clear distance ahead, resulting in the bus striking one of the vehicles involved in the rear, causing the crash. The driver of the school bus was issued a traffic citation for failing to maintain an assured clear distance ahead.
Police say that the school bus was filled with 31 students and four adults on board. Authorities said luckily no one involved in the crash was injured.
"All the kids on the school bus were coming from Geneva going to Hawken for a game," Savage noted. "High school kids. Everyone was fine."
Geneva Superintendent Dr. Terri Hrina-Treharn released this statement to 3News:
"We are aware of this unfortunate situation and most importantly are happy to report that all students, coaches, our driver, and others involved are safe. We will investigate the situation to determine the cause of the accident. When more information is available after an official investigation is done, we will release it at that time. "
This crash happened the day before Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine is set to visit Northeast Ohio to discuss bus safety. He is scheduled to stop at the Mentor Public School District's bus garage to highlight how buses are inspected by the Ohio State Highway Patrol.
This is a part of the governor's new "School Bus Safety Working Group" that was launched after an 11-year-old boy was killed and more than 20 other students were injured in a school bus crash last week in Clark County near Springfield. The conversation surrounding school bus safety has been renewed following that crash, with some calling for seat belts to be required.
"No one was ejected; everyone was fine," Savage said of Tuesday's incident. "There [were] no seatbelts on scene on the school bus."
3News will stream the governor's visit both on WKYC.com and on our YouTube page.
