PERKINS TOWNSHIP — A Tuesday afternoon commute turned into a chaotic scene on Perkins Avenue when a pickup truck slammed into the back of a loaded Perkins Schools bus, triggering a four-vehicle chain-reaction crash.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol (OSHP) Sandusky Post is investigating the incident, which occurred at approximately 4:06 p.m. near the intersection of Perkins Avenue and Bayview Lane.
Chain reaction
The Patrol provided these details about the accident":
Initial Impact: A Ram 1500, driven by Derek Davies, 40, of Huron, was eastbound when it failed to maintain an assured clear distance ahead.
The Bus: Davies’ truck struck the rear of a Perkins Schools bus operated by Barbara Richardson, 66, of Huron, who was slowing for stopped traffic.
Secondary Collisions: The force of the impact pushed the bus into the rear of a Buick Encore driven by Mary Carey, 68, of Huron.
Final Strike: Carey’s vehicle was then propelled into the back of a second Buick Encore, operated by Janet Wallace, 83, of Sandusky.
Injuries and occupants
The school bus was transporting 52 occupants. While the majority of the students were uninjured, the crash resulted in three hospitalizations:
Two students suffered minor injuries and were transported via ground ambulance to Firelands Hospital in Sandusky.
Derek Davies, the driver of the pickup, was also transported to Firelands Hospital with non-life-threatening injuries.
State troopers confirmed that the incident remains under active investigation.