The scene of the crash where a school bus hit a car on Cross Bay Boulevard and jumped the divider into oncoming northbound traffic during the start of rush hour on the busy strip. Forum Newsgroup photo by Patricia Adams.
The driver of a school bus slammed into a car travelling southbound on Cross Bay Blvd, taking out its back windshield and sending it plowing onto yet another vehicle in the left turning lane approaching the signal. After striking the vehicle, the school bus jumped the divider into oncoming northbound lanes of Cross bay Blvd, during the busy afternoon traffic buildup.
James Barto says he was sitting in his Silver Nissan waiting to get to the turn. “Thank God nobody was standing on the island. I heard a crash and then I got slammed,” said Barto. Moments later he was engaged in a heated verbal exchange with the driver of the bus whom he said was speeding. “Do you see that car over there? The one who hit me?” Barto said as he pointed across the street to the Hyundai Sonata struck first by the bus. “You have to be going pretty fast to do that type of damage and then jump the divider.”
And other eyewitnesses at the scene said that the bus was moving at a high rate of speed when the collision occurred. Joe Douglas was walking home from Waldbaum’s at the time of the accident. “I never stand on this median,” he said, “and this is makes it obvious why that is a great idea.” Douglas says over the course of his 45 years in Howard Beach he’s seen this happen all too often. Sometimes with pedestrians as well as vehicles involved. “I hope that guy is OK,” he said motioning to the ambulance where the Hyundai’s driver was being treated. “Every time this happens I’m just glad no one was killed.”
There were no children on board at the time of the accident. No charges were filed against the driver of the bus owned and operated by Little Richie Bus Service in Ozone Park. The bus company could not be reached for comment before press time.
By Patricia Adams
