'A horrible, horrible accident.' 3 in critical condition after Orange County school bus crash

Two drivers and an elementary school student are in critical condition after a crash between a school bus and a truck in Orange County on Wednesday..

News 12 Staff

Oct 22, 2020, 2:13 AM

Updated 1,470 days ago

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Two drivers and an elementary school student are in critical condition after a crash between a school bus and a truck in Orange County on Wednesday.
Authorities say eight children from Little Britain Elementary School were on board the bus just before 8:30 a.m. when a tree servicing truck crossed the double yellow line on Route 207 in New Windsor and crashed into bus and a third vehicle.
Officials say three victims, both drivers and a little girl sitting behind her bus driver, had to be extricated. The girl is listed in critical but stable condition. The drivers are both listed in critical condition.
News 12 is told the other students were able to walk off the bus to safety.
The uncle of the 6-year-old girl who was injured said she was transferred from St. Luke's Hospital to Westchester Medical Center.
Bill Campbell says his niece was stuck on the bus for an hour before rescuers got her out.
"She's got some trauma. She's a tough kid, she didn't cry a bit. She told her mom she did her yoga breaths to stay calm," said Campbell.
Orange County Executive Steve Neuhaus says it was a bad crash. "Some kids had to be extracted. These are little kids. We are in touch with the hospital, and they're doing everything they can. We are hopeful that everyone will recover, but this is a horrible, horrible accident. And I've seen many in my life. This is probably the worst I've seen," says Neuhaus.
The school district's website states that all new buses have seat belts and wearing one is optional on larger buses. It's not clear whether this bus was new or if the students were wearing seatbelts at the time of the crash.
A spokesperson for the Washingtonville School District says the superintendent and the principal spent time earlier Wednesday at the hospital with parents and other district staff.
News 12 is told Little Britain's campus has a crisis support team for faculty, staff and students.
Authorities say parents were immediately notified and that all of the students were taken to the hospital for evaluation - seven of whom have been released.
The school bus driver remains in critical condition at St. Luke's. Police say the truck driver is also in critical condition.
Officials are trying to figure out what caused the crash.