Crash involving North Allegheny school buses on Pennsylvania Turnpike sends 8 to hospital
Eight people were taken to the hospital after a crash involving two North Allegheny School District buses on the Pennsylvania Turnpike in Plum on Friday.
North Allegheny Superintendent Brendan Hyland said in a letter to parents that two buses transporting the marching band to the school's football game at Norwin High School were involved in a crash. The school's football team arrived at the stadium before the crash.
The letter said that while "there were no noticeable injuries," students were evaluated by first responders. Six students with "minor injuries" and two adults were taken to local hospitals for treatment, according to the district. Their exact conditions were not immediately known, though Allegheny Health Network said two of the three patients it received were discharged Friday night.
All other students were treated and released at the scene, the district said.
Hyland's letter said the parents of the students on the buses were contacted following the crash, which appeared to be a fender bender.
"The North Allegheny School District genuinely appreciates the professionalism of all of the responders, band volunteers, and district band personnel," the letter said.
Pictures and video from the scene show the two buses, along with EMS personnel, pulled over at the Turnpike's Oakmont Plum Service Plaza. Several students and first responders were seen standing around the vehicles after the crash, which happened around 5:45 p.m.
"A truck cut off the bus driver in the front," witness Geovan Hernandez said. "There was another bus behind it, and I'm guessing it wasn't able to brake on time, and it rammed into the back of the other bus. It looked pretty crazy, and the cops were pretty quick to respond."