The Raleigh Police Department is still investigating the cause of a bus accident that left a firefighter trapped inside his truck. The school bus, carrying seven children from Southeast Raleigh High and Centennial Middle School, was traveling on Ligon Mill Road near US Hwy 401 when the bus crashed in to the firefighter’s truck, forcing him off the road. A third car, a station wagon, was also involved in the crash though Raleigh police are not sure how.
It took the Raleigh Fire Department forty-five minutes to free fellow firefighter, Lt. Harry Kissinger from his truck. Lt. Kissinger was taken to WakeMed hospital where he is being treated for serious head injuries he sustained in the bus accident. The driver of the school bus and the driver of the station wagon were also taken to local Raleigh, North Carolina (NC) hospitals where they are being treated for serious injuries. Thankfully, none of the seven children on board the school bus were hurt in the accident.
Accidents involving school buses are more commonplace then one might think. According to the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction over 2,000 school bus safety violations occur every day and many of these violations lead to serious accidents or even deaths. My colleague, Jim Lewis, recently wrote an article about a school bus accident in Fayetteville, North Carolina (NC) that led to the death of one woman.
Drivers should use extra caution around school buses. Remember that buses make frequent and sudden stops. School bus drivers can also become easily distracted by noisy children on the bus. Drivers should always try to stay more then a car length from school buses and pay close attention to warning lights that indicate the bus driver is about to make a stop.
AC