Minor Accident Involves Elementary School Bus (VIDEO)

Update, 3:30 p.m.: Peekskill Police arrested the driver of the bus for endangering the welfare of a minor and leaving the scene of an auto injury accident, both misdemeanors. Police say the bus driver, Jaoquin Sherwood, 25, of Peekskill, told kids who complained of injury not to tell anyone about the accident. Read the full story here: http://patch.com/A-nMCk

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Peekskill school district officials sent 20 Hillcrest students to the hospital around 11 a.m. this morning, following a school bus accident that occurred around 8 a.m., according to school superintendent James Willis.

Six students who complained of headaches, injuries or anxiousness were transported to the hospital by ambulances between 10:30 and 11 a.m., school officials said.

The other students were either picked up by parents or transported by school bus to the hospital. No serious injuries were reported and all parents were notified, Willis said.

When they got to school this morning, the students reported to teachers that they were riding on the bus when they felt a jolt and that they were in an accident, officials said. The school then alerted the police. Currently, both the school and police are investigating the accident.

Police say that the bus driver did not notify them or the school of the accident and are investigating what they think may have been a sideswipe, Lt. Johansen said. He said they believe another car was involved, but they are not sure if it was moving or parked.

Johansen believes the accident occurred on the 700 block of Elm Street and said the driver may have reported the accident to the bus company, Miles Square Transportation, but he was not sure.

“You would think a driver, or bus company transporting children would notify police of an accident,” Johansen said.

 “All the kids are being attended to. It sounds like everything was taken care of appropriately,” said Superintendent Dr. James Willis of Hillcrest administration’s handling of the situation. “All the parents have been notified.”

Police Lieutenant Eric Johansen said that some students were visibly upset about the accident and the somewhat hectic atmosphere that ensued following the accident. There were several police cars and officers as well as EMTs interviewing students while school officials called parents. Most of the kids were in good spirits waiting in the cafeteria.

One mother who was waiting in the front of the school to pick up her son was unhappy.

“This happened at 8 a.m.,” Sara Lopez said. “Why was the school bus still picking up kids after it was in an accident?” Lopez said her 10-year-old son was fine but that he had been picked up by the bus after it had already been in the accident. "I think he may have heard the kids talking about it and feel scared."

Dr. Willis confirmed that about six or seven students were picked up by the bus after the accident occurred.

Police have a video taken from the school bus security camera, and were interviewing the bus driver at headquarters around 11:30 a.m.

Loni Cousar, a bus driver who was waiting to take the kids to the hospital said he saw the bus that got in the accident and there were no signs of damage.

Peekskill EMT, fire and police responded to the call.

As we get more information we will report it here on Peekskill-Cortlandt Patch, on Facebook and twitter.

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Editor's Note: This article's headline has been changed to reflect more accurate information about the accident. This article originally reported that 29 students were taken to the hospital, but we received more accurate information that only 20 students were taken to the hospital. Read more here: http://patch.com/A-nMCk