SCHOOL BUS CRASH REPORTS 2007

Three Others Injured in Route 201 Accident
February 20, 2007

DUNBAR TWP. - An accident involving a car and school bus killed one woman and sent three others to the hospital.

Donna R. Rose, 81, of Connellsville died from injuries sustained during the crash, which occurred around 2:45 p.m. at the intersection Route 201 and Ridge Boulevard.

State police trooper Scott M. Shell said the woman, who had been driving a Mercury Sable sedan, was flown by medical helicopter to UPMC-Presbyterian hospital in Pittsburgh following the accident, where she later died.

Bob Topper, administrative director for Fayette EMS, said crews had to extricate the woman from the vehicle.

Topper said the bus driver for T.A. Nelson Bus Lines Inc. and two Connellsville High School students sustained minor injuries and were taken by ambulance to Highlands Hospital in Connellsville.

Shell said three other students, in addition to the two taken to the hospital, also sustained minor injuries.

Police identified the bus driver as being Larry A. Shallenberger, 70, of Vanderbilt.

Shell said 25 students were on the bus when the crash occurred.

Parents of the teenagers involved in the accident began arriving on scene shortly after the crash.

"Word of a school bus accident spreads pretty quickly. Parents arrived soon after it happened," Topper said.

Connellsville Junior High West Principal John Schroyer, who was at the accident scene, said the uninjured students were taken to nearby Willow Inn until their parents could pick them up.

The bus was taking high school students home to the Vanderbilt and Dawson areas and was traveling north on Route 201 when the accident occurred, Shell said.

Police said it's unknown whether Rose, who was traveling east on Ridge Boulevard, attempted to turn right onto Route 201 or attempted to cross Route 201 to remain on Ridge Boulevard.

Shell said Rose's vehicle sustained severe damage to the right, front side. The bus sustained damage to the front and undercarriage, he said.

Schroyer said a few of the students were "shaken up" after the crash, but said that they handled the situation well.

"We took the kids inside to keep warm and fill out the proper paperwork," he said. "They all remained calm, handled the incident well and were cooperative."

Dunbar, DL&V, Dawson, Morrell, Monarch, North Union and Connellsville Township volunteer fire departments were on scene.

Fayette EMS and STAT MedEvac medical helicopter also responded, as did state police.

Shell said the crash remains under investigation.

By Rebekah Sungala, Herald-Standard

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