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Students injured after truck hits school bus

Up to eight children riding a Middletown City Schools bus were injured after it crashed head-on with a black sport utility vehicle in the 6000 block of Manchester Avenue, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2012, in Franklin Twp., Ohio. Staff photo by Kareem ElgazzarUp to eight children riding a Middletown City Schools bus were injured after it crashed head-on with a black sport utility vehicle in the 6000 block of Manchester Avenue, Wednesday in Franklin Twp.

Staff photo by Kareem Elgazzar Up to eight children riding a Middletown City Schools bus were injured after it crashed head-on with a black sport utility vehicle in the 6000 block of Manchester Avenue, Wednesday, Feb. 10, 2012, in Franklin Twp., Ohio. Staff photo by Kareem ElgazzarUp to eight children riding a Middletown City Schools bus were injured after it crashed head-on with a black sport utility vehicle in the 6000 block of Manchester Avenue, Wednesday in Franklin Twp.

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From WHIO-TV: Photos from the crash At whiotv.com

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Staff photo by Kareem Elgazzar A school bus and a truck collided today in Franklin Twp., Ohio.

By Hannah Poturalski, Steven Matthews and Hannah Poturalski and Steven Matthews
Staff Writers Updated 7:32 PM Wednesday, February 8, 2012

FRANKLIN TWP. — Middletown Christian officials breathed a sigh of relief after the last of nine students injured in a head-on bus crash Wednesday was released from the hospital.

At least 12 people, including nine of the 35 students on the bus, were injured when Zachary Cornett, 16, of Franklin Twp. allegedly lost control of his black Dodge truck around 8 a.m. and side-swiped a passing truck causing him to crash head-on into the school bus in the 6100 block of Manchester Road, said Sgt. Tom Bloomberg of Ohio Highway Patrol’s Lebanon post.

“A few of the students were visibly shaken up, but for the most case, their spirits were high,” said Roger Brandenburg, development director for Middletown Christian Schools. “We’re thankful it wasn’t worse. We are certainly in prayer for the bus driver and the driver of the truck. We’re certainly thinking of them at this time.”

The 35 students — ranging from elementary to high school — were traveling to Middletown Christian on a bus owned by the Middletown School District and driven by contractor Petermann.

The nine students were treated and released from Atrium Medical Center, a hospital spokesman said. The bus driver, Kimberly Berger, 45, of Monroe was released from the hospital with a leg injury.

In 2011, there were 12 injury crashes involving school buses in Butler and Warren counties, according to statistics from the Ohio Department of Public Safety.

The crash occurred just off the bridge over Interstate 75. A salt truck from the Warren County Engineer’s Office was on its way to treat the bridge when the crash occurred, said Savannah Shafer, spokeswoman for the engineer’s office.

“Typically depending on temperatures and weather, we’ll go out and treat all roads,” Shafer said. “With the temperature and way it was sticking we were only hitting trouble spots and bridges. At 8 a.m. the temperature dropped.”

Bloomberg said the driver was wearing a safety belt but passenger Mark Cornett, 51, the boy’s father, was not wearing a safety belt. The two were en route to a doctor’s appointment, Bloomberg said.

Zachary Cornett was treated at Atrium Medical Center for minor injuries while his father was taken to Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton with more serious lacerations and broken bones, Bloomberg said.

The elder Cornett was listed in fair condition Wednesday night, hospital officials said.

Bloomberg said Zachary Cornett was cited for failure to control.

“Drivers have got to have the responsibility to know the weather conditions present,” Bloomberg said. “The overpass was a solid sheet of ice.”

Middletown Christian Superintendent Mark Spradling was quickly on the scene of the accident. He contacted the parents of the students who were taken to the hospital, while other students who had cell phones were able to reach their parents. Petermann officials were also helpful in contacting parents, Spradling said. Petermann also sent out a second bus to transfer the students to Middletown Christian.

Once Spradling returned to school, a one-call notice was sent out to all parents. Parents who had children involved in the crash had the option of taking them home for the day.

“Middletown did a good job of contacting us,” Spradling said. “The bus driver did an excellent job, and we’re wishing her all the best.”

Berger has been driving for Petermann since July 2008, Middletown City Schools business manager Milt Thompson said. Resting at home Wednesday afternoon, Berger and her husband said they were relieved no one sustained life-threatening injuries from the crash.

Nicole Winkler of Manchester Road said she witnessed the crash as she went to drop her children off for their bus stop at the end of her long driveway.

“It was terrible; the kids were terrified,” Winkler said. “I always have to watch because I’m afraid my kids will get hit getting on the bus.”

Winkler said the bridge is troublesome in icy weather and is “never salted when it should be.”

Tammy Mason of Manchester Road said the speed along the road should be reduced from its current 45 mph.

“That’s ridiculous for down here because of the dips and blind driveways,” Mason said. “Manchester is very congested and they fly down through here.”

Staff writer Rick McCrabb contributed to this report.

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