CANTON – Children attending SAD 21’s Canton Elementary School had a good excuse for being late Monday morning. A car crashed into their school bus.
There were no injuries in the 7:58 a.m. accident, Oxford County Sheriff’s Sgt. Christopher Wainwright said.
He said the collision happened at 597 Turner St., which is also known as Route 108.
A 2004 Toyota sport utility vehicle driven by Penny Carver-Philbrick, 41, of Peru, tried to pass a 2002 Bluebird school bus operated by Carol Bernard, 48, of Dixfield, Wainwright said. There were 13 children, ages 5 and 6, on the bus.
The SUV was traveling behind the bus when, at the Canton-Hartford line, Bernard slowed to make a left turn into a school bus turnaround driveway.
“Philbrick said she thought (Bernard) was pulling over to let her go by,” Wainwright said.
“Bernard had her left turn blinkers on. It was the end of her route where she pulls into the large driveway to do a U-turn to avoid accidents,” he added.
Glaring sunlight was a contributing factor, Wainwright said.
The SUV struck the rear axle area on the bus, causing an estimated $100 damage. The Toyota sustained an estimated $2,500 damage and was towed by DACATA of Canton.
“It was the second accident with a school bus in two years on that bus route. It was no fault of the bus driver’s. People need to pay attention to school buses and err on the side of caution,” Wainwright said.
Canton firefighters and Med-Care Ambulance of Mexico also responded.
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