Deer Crashes Into School Bus Windshield In Dartmouth, 5 Students And Driver Hurt
DARTMOUTH (CBS) - Five students and their driver were hurt when a deer crashed through the windshield of a school bus Tuesday morning in Dartmouth. The bus driver is being called a hero for safely pulling the bus over after suffering a broken hand.
The bus was heading down Chase Road with middle and high school students just after 7 a.m. when a car hit the deer. Police said the impact launched the deer through the windshield of the oncoming school bus.
All five injuries were minor. The students were taken to a nearby hospital for evaluation.
"We understand the bus driver did sustain some injuries but is doing well. We are very grateful for his effort to ensure our students remained safe. His concern for our children was obvious," Dartmouth schools said in a statement.
Mark Jardin was driving the bus and was able to pull over safely. "I was wrestling with the deer, trying to get it off of me and trying to secure the bus and trying to make sure the kids were OK," he recalled.
He said he was most concerned about the children.
"I was fortunate enough that where it happened there was a driveway that was enough room for the kids to all get there, all be together, and all be accounted for. I was bleeding, and the kids were more concerned because I didn't realize it."
Zachary Lake is a student who was on the bus when the deer came crashing inside.
"All I heard was the bus brakes screeching and I just heard the crash and saw the glass flying through the air," he said. "He stood up and his hand was all bloody, he had blood on his face, he had blood on his leg, and he just told everyone to get off the bus. Then he did a head count."
Student Zhoe Rodriques was sitting just one row behind Jardin.
"My friend grabbed me, ducking under her while the deer came flying at us. Where I was sitting, the deer's head was right there so I probably would have gotten hit or something by the deer. She grabbed me and threw me under her arm," Rodriques said.
Rodriques praised Jardin for remaining calm during the chaotic moments.
"He was calm about it. He said 'Code red, code red I think I broke my arm,' and then he escorted us off the bus," Rodriques said.
Kyle Costa of Dartmouth Police said things could have been much worse.
"When you look at the images of the crash, it's incredible No. 1 how it occurred and No. 2 that he was able to not only survive that impact, but also walk away from it relatively unscathed after safely pulling that bus over," he said.
