Police Investigating Hillcrest Bus Incident that Involved 57 Students

A school bus carrying 57 students stopped short on the Bear Mountain Parkway this morning to successfully avoid a collision, Peekskill police said. The driver of a white sedan cut off the bus as it entered the parkway at Highland Avenue around 8:45 a.m., police said. Police have not located the driver, but are asking anyone with information to contact them, according to Lt. Eric Johansen.

Police were immediately notified of the accident and responded to Hillcrest to respond to the situation, Johansen said. Of the 57 students on the bus, 25 complained of whiplash and of injuries to their backs and necks. Nine of those students were transported to the Hudson Valley Hospital Center for further treatment. The rest were evaluated by Peekskill Fire and EMS and Peekskill Police Surgeon Dr. John McGurty.

Ambulances from surrounding communities including Croton, Garrison, Cortlandt, and Yorktown and the Peekskill Office of Emergency Management assited as well.

Miles Square Transportation, the district's bus company, had no comment when contacted by Patch. 

Police are continuing their investigation and ask anyone with information regarding the incident to contact them at (914)737-8000. 

This is the second school bus accident involving Hillcrest students this school year. The Peekskill school district officials sent 20 Hillcrest students to the hospital on Nov. 17, 2011 following a school bus accident in which the driver side swiped another vehicle. That driver was later charged with endangering the welfare of a minor and leaving the scene of an auto injury accident. Read the full story .