School Bus Driver Suffers Medical Emergency, Crashes Into Home In North Amityville
NORTH AMITYVILLE, N.Y. (CBSNewYork) -- A school bus slammed into a home after police say the driver suffered a medical emergency Tuesday morning on Long Island.
It happened just before 8 a.m. on Country Line Road near Ritter Avenue in North Amityville.
Five elementary students were on board the bus from the Western Suffolk BOCES school in Dix Hills.
Inside the home, the Collado family was just awakening for school and work, CBS2's Jennifer McLogan reported.
"I woke up shaking and crying, panicking, 'What happened?' I looked to the side and I grabbed my son real quick," Gabriella Collado told McLogan.
She said glass went flying, the walls started collapsing and the bus's tires missed her and her 4-year-old Jeremiah by mere feet.
Her brother Odris described it like a movie set as he raced around to help his family.
"My mom and my sister, they were alright. I'm like OK, I'm feeling alright, I'm a little better now. But when I saw this, it was like a nightmare," he said.
The students on board the bus were brought to Good Samaritan Hospital Medical Center in West Islip with minor cuts and bruises. A male bus attendant suffered shock.
The driver appeared to be unconscious, McLogan reported. She was taken to the hospital in critical but stable condition.
The Educational Bus Company said the driver had a recent physical and passed her latest road test four months ago.
School officials joined those from the bus company to survey the scene, as worried neighbors looked on.
Chopper 2 flew overhead as County Line Road was closed for the morning rush.
The Collado family matriarch, Eugenia, told McLogan her head and foot were hit with debris, shattering here eyeglasses. She was also sent to a hospital.
The family said the fire marshal told them their house is unstable and may have to be torn down. Still, their thoughts were with the victims on the bus.
"I'm just hoping for everyone to be OK, and the kids," said Odris. "The children on the bus… I hope she's OK, too."
The bus also pushed to family cars into the house.