A 17-year-old driver appears to be responsible for an accident involving a school bus, police say.

On Friday, January 26, at approximately 3:45 pm, members of the Manchester Township Police Department responded to the intersection of State Highway 37 and Colonial Drive for the report of a collision involving a school bus and a vehicle. Upon arrival, officers observed a silver 2007 Hyundai Elantra in the shoulder of the roadway with minor damage to the front passenger side of the vehicle. A yellow 2017 Thomas school bus, owned and operated by Manchester Township Board of Education located in Whiting, NJ, was observed with minor damage to the driver side of the bus.

Preliminary investigation revealed that the Juvenile operator of the Hyundai was traveling west on Colonial Drive in the left hand turn lane. The school bus was also traveling west on Colonial Drive but in the right lane attempting to make a left turn onto State Highway 37. The Hyundai and the school bus both entered the intersection. The Hyundai was attempting to go straight in the left hand turn lane while the bus was making a left turn. The driver of the school bus, 50-year-old Lamont Lett of Manchester, and his passengers, 37 students, were all wearing their seatbelts. One juvenile on the school bus reported a complaint of head pain and ultimately refused further medical attention while on scene. The driver and passenger of the Hyundai both juveniles, were also wearing their seatbelt and sustained no injuries from the crash.  

Assisting at the scene were Emergency Medical Technicians from the Manchester Township Division of Emergency Services and members of the Manchester Board of Education.

The investigation into this crash is still ongoing; however, improper lane change by the driver of the Hyundai has been determined to be the causing factor. This crash is being investigated by Ptl. Sage Sysol of the department’s Traffic Safety Unit.