Injured student home, recuperating after school bus accident on Blush Hill Road
May 15, 2024 | By Lisa Scagliotti6 p.m.: This post was updated with information from the student’s family.
1:35: This post was updated with information about the Bus 4 route.
11:45 a.m.: This post was updated with information from Vermont State Police.
Vermont State Police, Department of Motor Vehicles and Waterbury Ambulance Service personnel responded to the incident. Blush Hill Road was closed in this section for about two and a half hours. Photo by Gordon Miller
The Waterbury sixth grader who was injured in a bus accident on Blush Hill Road on Wednesday morning is home this evening and recuperating with his family members who are grateful for the support they've been receiving throughout the day.
Shawn Taft said his son, Thoren, a Crossett Brook Middle School sixth grader, has a broken right elbow, a concussion, and “many cuts and bruises,” but he was sent home after being treated at Central Vermont Medical Center today.
Taft shared the update with Waterbury Roundabout Wednesday afternoon, saying the family was grateful for the outpouring of messages of concern they have received since word went out about the incident during the morning bus run to school. “The community is so caring and supportive. It’s overwhelming, in a good way, how many people have reached out with care and support,” Taft said.
Vermont State Police and Department of Motor Vehicles officials are investigating the accident that happened just after 8 a.m. when a school bus transporting students to Crossett Brook Middle School and Harwood Union Middle/High School struck the student on Blush Hill Road. This happened near the intersection with Kimberly Lane, according to Harwood Superintendent Mike Leichliter.
State police so far have determined that bus driver, Bob Littletree, 77 of West Hartford, Vermont, was headed south on Blush Hill Road at approximately 5 mph when the 12-year-old ran across the street in front of the bus before the bus came to a complete stop. Conditions were foggy and the road was wet at the time, police noted.
Waterbury Ambulance Service responded and transported Thoren to Central Vermont Medical Center with what were described as serious but non-life-threatening injuries, according to police. In his message to families, Leichliter said the student was conscious when the ambulance arrived.
Approximately 15 students were on the bus at the time and a second bus was dispatched to transfer them and transport them to school, the superintendent said. Crossett Brook Middle School Co-Principal Duane Pierson headed to the hospital as well, Leichliter said.
The lower section of Blush Hill Road was closed to traffic for approximately two and a half hours while investigators were at the scene — motorists were diverted to use Cross Road.
State police responded along with personnel from the Vermont Department of Motor Vehicles Enforcement Division which investigates commercial vehicle incidents. The bus company First Student’s safety team is also conducting an internal investigation, Leichliter said.
“Our thoughts are with this student and family,” the superintendent said.
State Trooper Mae Murdock in a news release wrote that neither speed nor impairment are believed to be a factor in this crash. Leichliter said school buses are equipped with dash cameras and footage would be reviewed as part of the investigation. Anyone who may have witnessed this incident is encouraged to contact Murdock at the Berlin barracks at 802-229-9191 or by email to mae.murdock@vermont.gov.
Regarding the Bus 4 route going forward Leichliter said that First Student would be following a protocol from the U.S. Department of Transportation that requires a driver to be tested for alcohol and drugs within two hours after any type of accident. The driver is also put on leave pending the outcome of the investigation, he explained.
In the interim, First Student's local manager at the Harwood Bus Barn Danial Sargeant will be handling the Bus 4 route, “until First Student reviews the results of the investigation and makes their further determinations,” the superintendent said.
Taft posted on Facebook soon after the incident and messages of concern and inquiries about Thoren’s condition filled the reply section as the day progressed. By late afternoon, Taft said Thoren was headed home and wanted to see his cat.
“I literally have hundreds of messages that will take me a week to read. Thank you so much for the love and support. My son said he feels really cared about. To me that is invaluable. Thank you, everyone so much,” Taft wrote. “He’s had a long day. I just need everyone to know, I’m so happy my child is ok, I’m so happy he’s alive. For this I can only be happy and love him right now, I can’t be mad at anyone right now. Just feel so lucky my son seems to be ok. I feel so lucky for all of the love and support.”
This post will be updated when more information becomes available.