CAUGHT ON VIDEO: School bus collides with minivan on Central Avenue [UPDATED]

Just before 9:30am, Officer Dan Merrill was dispatched to the intersection of Central Avenue and Bradshaw Road after a vehicle collided with a school bus.

“Upon arrival, Officer Merrill learned that the school bus was struck by a 2001 Toyota Sienna as it illegally tried crossing over Central Avenue,” police said. As a result, the operator of the minivan struck the bus as it traveled west on Central Avenue.

At the time of the impact, there were 36 children aboard the bus, police say. None of them reported being injured, however, the driver of the minivan was transported to a local hospital for a complaint of pain.

“The investigation is still ongoing, however, summons(es) are expected to be issued to the operator of the bus upon completion,” police said.

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22 COMMENTS

  1. How many accidents are there a day in Lakewood? The amount of traffic is out of control. So many cars on the road….You can not drive down any road without bumper to bumper. Route 9 was not built foe this amount of cars. Accidents all over. Getting worse. I have been hit twice. Both times stopped.Red light,and stop sign. Its a shame,scared to drive in Lakewood..People make jokes its not funny.

  2. The bus stopped, but blatantly ignored the vehicle coming right at them. Some of these bus drivers are terrifying. Some one is going to get killed one day, it’s very scary.

  3. I really can’t blame the bus in this case. I’ve been in that position multiple times, trying to cross Central Ave or getting in line to get ON TO Central Ave. Unless you cut off someone, you Can NOT cross that street at that time of day. They need to extend the light the light on to the 9 by 5-10 seconds and the light to Sunset by 10-15 seconds. It’s a hopeless backlog. As are many intersections in Lakewood during the busy hours.

  4. from the video, it is clear who is at fault here, but it appears that the bus driver did not see the grey minivan at all.
    I drive with my headlights on 24/7, not necessarily to see BUT to be SEEN easily.
    Bus driver still at fault, but if the minivan had the headlights on, maybe, just maybe the bus driver would have seen it easier and a crash would have been avoided.

  5. The Lakewood bus transportation is hiring drivers that should never be driving. I can’t believe what I see these school bus drivers doing. Totally bus drivers fault. Over development has caused these issues where drivers are getting frustrated with traffic and taking chances this like driver did. It will only get worse if they township official don’t stop this insane development. Stop this growth in Ocean County. The infrastructure can’t handle it.

  6. The article states the minivan struck the bus. However, the video clearly shows the bus driving into the minivan after pausing at the stop sign and almost immediately lurching into the road and the minivan. THE MINIVAN DID NOTHING WRONG AND WAS HIT BY THE BUS. The driver needs to be terminated and the Bus companies need to do more to stop reckless behavior by drivers. This is the second reported reckless incident in two weeks.

    • just wondering do the bus companies even check the driving records of a driver before hiring them? that might alleviate whats going onwith the buses

  7. My child was on the bus and has had this driver since last year. I have never seen him drive irresponsibly and my child feels safe on his bus every day. I hope he doesn’t lose his job, I’m sure he would be more careful in the future.

Comments are closed.