School bus crash left 18-year-old driver trapped for 2 hours in New Castle County

BEAR, Del. - Several emergency crews responded to a serious crash involving a school bus full of students that left an 18-year-old driver critical in Bear Wednesday morning.

What we know:

Officials say a school bus and vehicle collided on the southbound side of Route 896 near Brennan Boulevard just after 8 a.m.

Eleven students ranging in age from 14 to 17 years old were on their way to Appoquinimink High School when the crash happened. 

None of the students were injured, but the 74-year-old bus driver was transported to a local hospital. Their condition is unknown.

SKYFOX was live over the scene as crews worked to get free the "heavily entrapped" driver from a vehicle resting on the median.

The 18-year-old driver of the other vehicle is in critical condition after being trapped in her vehicle for two hours before crews could get her out.

What they're saying:

Mandi Dehorty says she felt the impact of the crash several yards away inside her office at Summit Bridge Veterinary Hospital.

"I felt a rumble, I honestly thought the trash truck was here to get the trash cans," she says.

Her co-worker, Meredith Rush, who just graduated EMT school, says she immediately went to the bus driver.

"All I could do is reassure him, comfort him, be there and hold his hand, and tell him that his kids are doing okay. That’s all he asked about are the kids," says Rush.

Dehorty helped get the kids and their belongings off the bus.

"I’m going to make sure these kids feel warm and safe, brought them blankets, brought them over to the facility," she says.

Timeline:

The Christiana Fire Company says it took more than two hours to get the 18-year-old driver out of the Chevrolet Cruze. Fortunately, before they arrived, they say a tow truck driver, that happened to be driving by the crash, got a heavy wrecker to the scene to get the bus off the Chevrolet.

"The way she was trapped, we had to cut away most of the car from her, so it took us, I believe it was just over two hours to get her out of the car. She was awake the whole time, she was speaking with the New Castle County paramedics," says "Brandon Speakman, Assistant Chief of the Christiana Fire Company. "Just trying to keep her calm and keep her mind away from the fact of how injured she was."

According to Delaware State Police, the preliminary investigation revealed the school bus was traveling in the left lane of Route 896 southbound, and the Chevrolet was traveling in the right lane. The Chevrolet attempted to change lanes from the right lane to the left, and struck the front of the school bus, police say. As a result, the Chevrolet partially spun in front of the school bus, and both vehicles collided into the guardrail.

Big picture view:

Rush says she’s grateful everyone made it out of the crash.

"Thank God, it’s all I’ve been thinking about all day, I haven’t been able to focus on my job here today," she says. "To know that everybody’s alive is really great."

Delaware State Police are continuing to investigate the crash.