Kid Injured In School Bus, E-Bike Crash In Somerset County

BRIDGEWATER, NJ — A young boy was injured after his electric bike (E-bike) collided with a school bus with elementary students inside on Thursday morning.

On Thursday at 07:51 a.m., the Bridgewater Township Police Department responded to a motor vehicle versus pedestrian crash on Foothill Road near the intersection of Edgewood Drive.

Officers found a Bridgewater Township School Bus that was headed to Crim Elementary School and a juvenile boy who had been riding an E-bike.

The school bus was being driven by Luis Vernaza, a 60-year-old man from North Plainfield. The bus was also occupied by 11 students, said Bridgewater Police Officer Joe Greco.

A preliminary investigation found that the bus was driving west on Foothill Road at a low speed. A
juvenile boy riding an E-bike was driving east on Foothill Road approaching the bus.

The juvenile riding the E-bike lost control of the bike and fell into the side of the passing bus, said Greco.

The juvenile suffered a minor cut to his knee. He was treated on scene by a First Aid Squad and then released to a parent, said Greco.

No injuries were reported among the students or the driver on the bus.

This crash is still under investigation by the Bridgewater Township Police Department’s Traffic Safety Bureau.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Joe Greco of the Bridgewater Police Traffic Safety Bureau at 908-722-4111 extension 4186 or the Bridgewater TIPS line at 877-660-INFO (4636).

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