50°
First Student, which operates the Stamford school buses, suspended driver Diana Morris-Scott, 35, of School Street, Norwalk, after the accident.
No charges have been filed, but police are investigating the 12:25 p.m. accident that sent nine students from Turn of River Middle School to Stamford Hospital complaining of minor injuries, police said.
The 2004 IC Model school bus was transporting students from Turn of River Middle School home after an early dismissal due to the snowstorm when the crash occurred.
The school bus was traveling north, approaching a red traffic light at Vine Road, police said. A 2000 Ford F350 pickup was waiting in the driveway to turn left onto Vine Road westbound at the red light.
When the light turned green, the pickup truck started forward to turn when it was struck by the approaching school bus, police said.
The bus continued out the driveway crossing over Vine Road, where it went over the north sidewalk and struck and broke a utility pole, police said. The bus continued across the front yard of 118 Vine Road until it slammed into the porch on the front of the house and came to rest, police said.
The uninjured students were returned to Turn of River Middle School, police said. Many parents responded to the school to collect their children while the rest were driven home by First Student vans, police said.
School spokeswoman Sharon Beadle said the students had all been released from Stamford Hospital by late Friday afternoon.
Morris-Scott indicated the bus suffered a mechanical failure, police said. Police seized the bus, which was towed after 3 p.m. and is undergoing an inspection by the Connecticut Department of Motor Vehicles.
Morris-Scott has also been “temporarily disqualified” from transporting City of Stamford Public School students, police said.
Crews from Eversource (formerly Connecticut Light & Power) repaired the broken utility pole. The homeowner, who was dealing with Eversource workers, declined to comment.
"Not right now," she said as she walked back into her house Friday afternoon.
Stamford police are asking for assistance from the public in locating any witnesses to the accident. Anyone with information is asked to contact Officer Jeffrey Booth or Officer Hugh Mullin at 203-977-4712.
Click here to follow Daily Voice Stamford and receive free news updates.
