UPDATE (August 24, 2023):
CLARK CO., Ind. (ADAMS) – The minivan driver who allegedly caused the deadly school bus crash in Clark County Tuesday morning is now facing criminal charges. Court officials say 35-year-old Hermanio Joseph is jailed on one count of aggravated vehicular homicide.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol says Joseph’s vehicle traveled left-of-center on State Route 41, colliding with the oncoming Northwestern Local Schools bus. One child was ejected from the vehicle and was declared dead at the scene and another was transported to Dayton Children’s Hospital with serious injuries.
School district officials say classes are canceled today, but, staff members are reporting for training on how to offer support for students when school resumes tomorrow.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol released the following:
***UPDATE*** On August 23, Hermanio Joseph, was taken into custody and charged with Aggravated Vehicular Homicide, a felony of the 4th degree. He was incarcerated into the Clark County Jail. The crash remains under investigation.
ORIGINAL STORY:
COLUMBUS, Ohio (ADAMS) – The deadly bus crash in Clark County yesterday is reigniting discussion on seat belts for students in the state. Ohio is in the majority of U.S. states that do not have any safety belt requirements for school buses.
The National Transportation Safety Board has issued a recommendation for shoulder and lap belts for all passengers on school transportation.
Only eight states currently require them. Ohio lawmakers introduced a measure to make school bus seat belts mandatory in 2018, but, the legislation never moved beyond committee discussions. The Ohio State Highway Patrol reports seven fatalities tied to school bus crashes across the state between 2018 and last year.
Read more here
The Ohio State Highway Patrol released the following regarding Tuesday’s crash:
The Springfield Post of the Ohio State Highway Patrol is investigating a fatal crash involving a school bus in German Township, Clark County. The crash occurred on state Route 41 (Troy Road) near Lawrenceville Road at 8:16 a.m. this morning.
The preliminary investigation revealed that a 2016 International school bus from the Northwestern Local School District was traveling westbound on state Route 41 when it was struck by a 2010 Honda Odyssey minivan that was traveling eastbound on state Route 41 and went left of center. The school bus subsequently went off the right side of the roadway and overturned as a result of the crash.
One juvenile passenger of the school bus was pronounced deceased at the scene.
The school bus was operated by Alfred E. Collier, 68, Springfield. Collier suffered minor injuries but was not transported. 22 juvenile passengers were transported to area hospitals with non-life-threatening injuries. One juvenile passenger was transported to Children’s Hospital with serious, life-threatening injuries.
The Honda Odyssey was operated by Hermanio Joseph, 35, Springfield. Joseph and his passenger, Roberto Mompremier, 37, Springfield, were transported to Springfield Regional Medical Center with non-life-threatening injuries.
The Ohio State Highway Patrol was assisted at the scene by the Springfield Township Fire Department and EMS, German Township Fire Department and EMS, Clark County Sheriff’s Office, Clark County Coroner’s Office, Clark County Engineer’s Office, Dan’s Towing and the Ohio Department of Transportation.
The crash remains under investigation at this time.
