SCHOOL BUS CRASH REPORTS 2007

Indiana Bus Driver Cited in Accident
March 7, 2007

A bus driver whose vehicle struck the rear of another bus last week, injuring 15 Indiana County middle and high school students, will be cited for careless driving, state police at Indiana said.

Dana Fedoruk, 38, of Creekside, also was terminated from her position with the Fullington Auto Bus Co., of Clearfield County.

Fullington, the district's bus service provider for 20 years, also was cited.

According to state police, Fedoruk hit the rear of a bus driven by Donald Edward, 71, of Home, which had stopped to let off students.

The accident occurred at 3 p.m. Feb. 28 on Route 119 in Rayne Township.

The buses carried 69 Marion Center School District students. Fifteen were transported to Indiana Regional Medical Center. All were treated and released.

State police said citations were filed with District Judge George Thachik, of Clymer. A spokeswoman for Thachik said only the citation against the bus company had been filed as of Tuesday afternoon.

Aerial Fullington Weisman is president of the bus company, which she co-owns with her brother, Michael Weisman.

"We are not going to contest the citation," Aerial Weisman said yesterday.

According to the police report, Fullington was cited for operating a bus with brakes that made it "out of service" at the time of the collision.

Weisman said an inspection by PennDOT and state police after the accident found that one rear brake lining was at the wear line.

"What that means is that it does not necessarily need to be changed," she said. "It means it needs to be changed soon."

Coincidentally, she said, the bus had been scheduled for routine inspection this week.

"We are not trying to shirk our duties here," Weisman said. "The bus was not the cause of the accident. It was human error."

Fedoruk had been with the company for several years, Weisman said.

"We had to respond appropriately by terminating the driver," she said. "We've instructed our drivers that safety is our No. 1 priority."

Fedoruk could not be reached for comment.

Marion Center Superintendent Francis Fregly said yesterday that all of the injured students were doing well.

Bus driver Edward was not injured and remains on the job, Weisman said.

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