13 Ossining High students hurt in bus crash

OSSINING - A school bus crashed into a telephone pole outside Ossining High School late Tuesday morning, injuring more than a dozen students.

The Royal Coach line bus crashed shortly after 11:30 a.m. on Emwilton Place, which reopened around 6 a.m. Wednesday.

The bus appeared to have driven off the side of the road before striking the telephone pole, with the pole leaning on the bus and drooping wires.

Schools Superintendent Raymond Sanchez said 13 Ossining High School students were taken to either Westchester Medical Center or Phelps Memorial Hospital. The injuries were "to my knowledge basically bumps and bruises and neck pain as well," he said.

All of the students were expected to be released by the end of the day, school officials said. The male bus driver was also taken to the hospital but later released.

"I'm just thankful everyone seems to be OK at this point," Sanchez said.

Ossining First Assistant Fire Chief Angelo Manicchio said there were 20 people on the bus, which was headed to BOCES in Yorktown.

Sanchez said the school district provides a morning and afternoon shuttle to BOCES for students who want to take classes there, generally in vocational programs. The bus was leaving on the afternoon run when it veered off the road, he said.

The injured students who were able to walk were taken into the school for evaluation before being taken back out and put into ambulances.

Everyone was off the bus by the time firefighters arrived, Manicchio said.

Ossining High School dismissed its students at its normal time, but via Wolden Road.

Consolidated Edison responded to the scene to address the fallen telephone pole and wires.

Twitter: @MattSpillane