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School Bus Involved In Multi-Car Crash

WASHINGTON TOWNSHIP (KDKA) -- A multi-vehicle crash involving a school bus, SUV and a car in Westmoreland County sent several people to the hospital Tuesday morning.

The accident happened on Route 66 at Pleasant Valley Drive in Washington Township just after 7 a.m.

According to the Washington Township Police Department, 44-year-old Dwayne Miller of Vandergrift was headed south in his Chevrolet Blazer when he pulled into the northbound lane and began passing a witness and the car involved in the crash.

Police say that's when Miller's vehicle crashed into the northbound school bus head on, and then the SUV hit the other vehicle, which had been stopped in the southbound land of Route 66.

As a result of the impact, Miller was left unconscious and trapped inside his vehicle.

He and a woman who was a passenger inside the SUV were flown by medical helicopter to hospitals in Pittsburgh. Their injuries are considered severe.

Investigators say it is not known at this time why Miller pulled into the northbound lane.

The driver of the school bus has been identified as 62-year-old Alma Gestner of Apollo, and the driver of the other car involved is identified as 61-year-old Lawrence Ross of Freeport.

Police say both Gestner and Ross were taken by ambulance to Forbes hospital for treatment of minor injuries.

School District officials say there were 15 middle and high school students on the bus, and they were taken to Kiski Area schools on a different bus.

Three of the students were reportedly taken to the hospital as a precaution. None of them were seriously injured.

The investigation into the crash continues.

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