North East – Three students transported to hospital after school bus is rear ended by a driver while picking up children on Route 40 in Cecil County, according to Maryland State Police.
Police said three students between the ages of eight and ten were transported to Union Hospital this morning. All three children were on board the school bus when the incident occurred.
Matthew Bailey, 30, of Elkton, was transported to Christiana Hospital. Bailey was driving a blue Hyundai involved in the crash. Police are investigating the possibility of Bailey’s use of a cell phone as a contributing circumstance in this crash, according to authorities. Charges are pending the outcome of the crash investigation.
The driver of the Cecil County school bus is identified as Jennifer Gore, 24, of Elkton. She was assisting a student board the bus at the time of the crash. There were 27 students on board when the incident occurred.
The preliminary investigation by Maryland State Police indicates the school bus was parked on the right shoulder of the westbound lanes of Pulaski Highway, without flashing red signals activated. Bailey, operating the Hyundai, was traveling westbound in lane two and for unknown reasons traveled off the road and struck the rear of the parked school bus.
Both lanes of Pulaski Highway were shut down for approximately 45 minutes. One lane is now open while crash cleanup continues. Assistance is being provided by MDOT State Highway Administration personnel.
The crash investigation is continuing. No charges have yet been filed.