Teen Girl Killed In Crash With School Bus In Bel Air

BEL AIR, MD — A 16-year-old was killed Thursday afternoon when the vehicle she was riding in was rear-ended and pushed in front of an oncoming school bus while the teens' vehicle was waiting to turn.

According to the Harford County Sheriff's Office, the collision happened shortly after 2 p.m. Sept. 18 at MD Route 543 and Crescent Knoll Drive and involved two vehicles and a Harford County Public School bus.

Emergency responders provided medical aid to everyone involved in the collision, including children on the school bus. A medical helicopter also was dispatched to the scene, according to the Harford County Sheriff's Office.

The preliminary investigation by the sheriff's office indicates the vehicle driven by a 17-year-old boy was northbound on Route 543. It had stopped and was waiting to make a left turn onto Crescent Knoll Drive when it was hit from behind by another vehicle, pushing it into the path of a southbound school bus on Route 543.

Authorities said the 17-year-old boy suffered significant injuries and was flown to a local trauma center. The passenger in his vehicle, a 16-year-old girl, was fatally injured, the sheriff's office said. Social media posts have identified the girl as Blake Elliott, 16, a junior at C. Milton Wright.

The driver of the vehicle who rear-ended the teens, a 39-year-old man, wasn't injured.

Authorities have not released the names of any of those involved.

The students who were not injured in the crash were evacuated from the school bus and moved to another bus, while six students were taken to a local hospital to be checked out, the HCSO reported.

Route 543 remained closed for several hours following the crash.

"Our thoughts and prayers are with the families of everyone involved in today’s collision, especially those who lost a loved one," the sheriff's office said.

Harford County Public Schools leaders expressed their sorrow for the tragedy on social media. C. Milton Wright High School officials canceled all after-school activities, including Friday's football and volleyball games. The football game has been rescheduled to Monday.

"We are heartbroken and mourning alongside the C. Milton Wright High School community following the tragic passing of one of their students. This loss is felt deeply by all of us in HCPS. From our students and staff to families and our greater community, we all feel the impact when a young life is lost. In moments of sorrow, the strength of our community is found in the care and compassion we show one another. Today, students and staff leaned on each other for support as they began the healing process," they school system posted on Facebook.

"As we grieve, we also hold close another family whose child is being treated for serious injuries at a local hospital. Our hope and prayers are for a full and swift recovery. Please keep the students, families and all who are impacted in your thoughts. Join us in standing with the C. Milton Wright community as they navigate this difficult time and we will continue to surround them with love and support in the days ahead. Today, we are all Mustangs," HCPS stated.

A candlelight vigil will be Friday at 7 p.m. at CMW turf field. Those attending are encouraged to wear black.

Residents who live along Crescent Knoll Drive told The Baltimore Sun the intersection where the crash happened is dangerous because of visibility issues caused by an incline in the roadway.

“People come flying up the hill going 60, 70 mph and they slam into cars all the time,” Keri Ainsworth, a resident, told The Baltimore Sun. “This is a bad intersection.”