At approximately 6:40am Thursday morning, Manchester police were dispatched to the intersection of Route 70 and Ridgeway for the report of a school bus and commercial van crash.
Upon arrival at the scene, officers observed a yellow 2015 Thomas School Bus facing north on County Road 571 (Ridgeway) with extensive front-end damage and a green 2005 Honda Odyssey facing north on County Road 571 with extensive passenger side front damage. Both vehicles were blocking the northbound travel lanes of County Road 571.
The investigation revealed that the school bus was traveling northbound in the left travel lane of County Road 571. The Honda was in the left turn lane of southbound County Road 571 waiting to make a left turn onto State Highway 70 east. At that time, the Honda made a left turn in front of the school bus. The school bus impacted the Honda on the front passenger side. The school bus after initial impact continued straight and came to final rest facing north in the right northbound travel lane of County Road 571. The Honda after initial impact rotated approximately ninety degrees and came to final rest facing north in the left northbound travel lane of County Road 571.
The driver of the school bus, identified as 54-year-old Karen Hurley of Whiting, NJ, suffered facial lacerations. She was transported by ambulance to Community Medical Center in Toms River, NJ. The school bus was occupied by two juvenile students from Manchester Township High School and a school bus aide, identified as 60-year-old, Gloria Lecompte of Lakehurst, NJ, who suffered injuries to her hip. She was transported by ambulance to Community Medical Center, in Toms River, NJ.
One juvenile student was transported to Community Medical Center for a complaint of chest pain. The remaining student did not suffer any injuries as a result of the crash.
The driver of the Honda, identified as 27-year-old, Christian Little of Jackson, NJ, suffered injuries to his hip and hands. He was transported to Community Medical Center in Toms River, NJ. All individuals involved in the accident are listed in stable condition.