Connecticut driver looks away momentarily and hits school bus

A Connecticut driver may be following another vehicle far too closely if he or she would not be able to avoid a collision if the other driver brakes suddenly or is stopped. The driver should provide enough stopping time between motor vehicles in order to avoid a citation for following too closely.

A car struck the back of a school bus in Connecticut one morning, injuring two adults and a student. According to Connecticut police, a blue Jaguar sedan hit the back of a school bus that was at a stop with its red flashing lights switched on. Officials said the bus was stopped to pick up students who were standing at an intersection. The bus was ferrying about 15 students to a local high school when the rear end collision occurred.

The Jaguar, driven by a 31-year-old man, was jammed underneath the bus after the crash. According to reports, the driver of the car told police he looked away for a moment, and when he looked ahead, he hit the bus. The man, the bus driver and a 17-year-old student were brought to a hospital to be treated for minor injuries.

After the accident, the road was closed for about 60 minutes. Police said the Jaguar was towed from the scene of the accident with heavy front-end damage. According to reports, the bus didn’t seem to have any serious damage. Investigators continued to look into the accident, and the driver of the Jaguar was cited for failure to carry a license and failure to keep a safe distance.

A driver should always be paying attention to the road and not follow another vehicle more closely than is necessary. Drivers should also consider the speed of the vehicle in front of them, as well as the traffic and conditions of the roadway.

Source:  nhregister.com, “3 injured after car rear-ends Hamden school bus, driver of car cited” No author given, May. 19, 2014