Impatient Driver Barrels Into School Bus
A Hudson Valley man who felt he was more important than everybody else on the road, smashed into a school bus, injuring one.
Tuesday afternoon Columbia County Sheriff's were dispatched to a two-vehicle personal injury accident involving a school bus on State Route 23, at the intersection with County Route 16 in the Town of Claverack, N.Y.
Deputies found that a 2008 BMW, operated by Daniel O’Connell of Hillsdale N.Y., was traveling westbound on State Route 23, when he attempted to pass the slower line of traffic on the left.
As O'Connell was passing on the left, a school bus owned by Taconic Hills School District and driven by David Dougherty age 59 of Ancramdale NY, also traveling west bound was making a legal left turn onto County Route 16.
As the school bus was making its turn, the bus was stuck on the driver's side by O'Connell's vehicle. Both vehicles became disabled in the roadway.
At the time, the bus was occupied by two students, ages 14 and 15, as well as three Taconic Hills Staff members and the bus driver.
The driver of the school bus was transported to a local hospital complaining of neck pain. No one else was injured in the accident, including the driver of the BMW.
Everyone involved was wearing their seat belt. O'Connell was issued traffic tickets for improper passing.