GERRY - A school bus following another vehicle too closely on Route 60 resulted in one person being taken by Starflight to the Hamot Medical Center and 22 Dunkirk High School students being treated for minor injuries.
Around 4 p.m. Monday, a school bus owned by First Students taking the Dunkirk High School girls' varsity track team to Southwestern Central School collided with the driver's side of a Chevrolet Blazer on Route 60. A report released late Monday by the New York State Police states the bus and the Blazer were both being driven south on Route 60 when the Blazer, driven by Amanda Winhaber, 16, slowed down to turn into a private driveway.
The report states the bus, driven by John R. Logsdon, 54, "not paying attention nor having ample time to stop," swerved to the left as the Blazer was turning, with the bus hitting the driver's side front door of the Blazer.
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School Bus and SUV collide
Emergency crews used the Hurst tool to get Ms. Winhaber out of the vehicle before she was taken by Starflight to the Hamot Medical Center for treatment of a broken wrist, thumb and a concussion. A male passenger in the vehicle and Logsdon were also taken to area hospitals for observation.
There were 22 students on the bus at the time. Carl Fransen, Gerry fire chief, ordered all of the students to be taken to WCA Hospital and Brooks Memorial Hospital as a precautionary measure, though none of the students are believed to have any serious injuries. Fransen had a triage area set up in a nearby barn to provide immediate treatment for those who were injured.
"People need to pay attention and slow down a little bit on this road," Fransen said. "They need to use some caution. We have a lot of high-speed accidents on Route 60."
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The New York State Police Accident Reconstruction Team is investigating the accident. A cause or possible charges have not been released.
The Gerry Fire Department and New York State Police were assisted at the scene by the Sinclairville Fire Department, Cassadaga Fire Department, Stockton Fire Department, Ellington Fire Department, Falconer Fire Department, Frewsburg Fire Department, Ellery Center Fire Department, Maple Springs Fire Department Fluvanna Fire Department, Chautauqua County Fire Police, Starflight and Alstar Ambulance. The Mayville and Kennedy volunteer fire departments were on standby.