'Beloved' School Bus Driver Killed In Lehigh County Crash
UPPER MACUNGIE TOWNSHIP, Pa. (CBS) – The driver of a school bus died after the bus slammed into a building in Lehigh County Monday morning. Investigators say no students were on the bus when the accident occurred.
The accident happened at about 8 a.m. in the 8300 block of Schantz Road in Upper Macungie Township.
According to investigators, a Parkland School District school bus collided with another car, went off the road and slammed into the side of the Upper Macungie Township municipal building.
Police say the driver, identified by the Parkland School District as Kelly E. Smith, 42, was pronounced dead at the scene. The driver of the other vehicle involved in the crash was not seriously injured.
The school district released a statement that read in part:
"Early this morning, a tragic accident occurred as one of Parkland's longtime bus drivers departed to pick up her students. Kelly E. Smith, 42, passed away as a result of an accident. No students were on the bus at the time. There is speculation that she may have suffered some type of medical incident prior to or during the accident that made her lose control of her vehicle. Upon examination by emergency medical personnel, it was deemed that Kelly might have lost her life before losing control of the bus."
Officials are checking the structural integrity of the building after the crash left a gaping whole in the wall. A township meeting that was scheduled for Monday night has been cancelled.
The exact cause of the deadly accident remains under police investigation.
Kelly, according to the school district, worked as a Parkland bus driver for 12 years, along with her mother and brother.
Grief counselors were on hand and a letter will be sent home to parents.
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Reported By Steve Beck, CBSPhilly.com
