Accident sends pupils to hospital

MANALAPAN — An early morning accident involving a Manalapan-Englishtown Regional School District bus and another vehicle sent 14 students and the driver of the car to the emergency room at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township.

There were 28 students on the bus, plus the driver, at the time of the accident, according to police.

"It happened just before 7:30 a.m. Monday," Superintendent of Schools Joseph Scozzari said. "It was on Taylors Mills Road, about 300 to 400 feet from the intersection of Conmack Lane."

Scozzari, who was at the scene of the accident at about 7:45 a.m, said the bus was heading east (toward Route 9) on Taylors Mills Road.

The bus was carrying pupils who will eventually attend the new Wemrock Brook School to the four schools (Pine Brook, Taylor Mills, Clark Mills and Milford Brook) they are attending while construction continues on the Wemrock Brook School.

The superintendent said Wemrock Brook Principal Jackie Martin, a school nurse, the Englishtown-Manalapan First Aid Squad, the Millstone First Aid Squad and the Marlboro First Aid Squad responded to the scene.

"They transported the children in three rigs to the emergency room," said the superintendent. "Parents were notified."

Erick Rommel, communications specialist, CentraState Healthcare System, said three boys and 11 girls, ages 9-11, were taken to the emergency room and examined. None of the students was admitted to the hospital.

Scozzari said parents picked up their children at the hospital.

He said it appears the elementary school bus rear-ended the second vehicle, which may have been stopped while another school bus was picking up children. The driver of the second vehicle was taken to the hospital. Scozzari said he believes the driver of the vehicle that was hit may have had a neck or back injury.

Police are investigating the accident.

— Dave Benjamin