EAST HAVEN -- Twenty-six people were sent to the hospital early Monday after a truck crashed into the back of a Connecticut Transit bus, but police reported no critical injuries and said some patients already were being released Monday afternoon.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing, and no charges had been filed.
Preliminary reports by police say a commercial box truck driven by Juan Rodriguez, 28, of Allentown, Pa., crashed into the back of a bus driven by Alexander Diosa, 37, of Cheshire, as the bus was stopped in front of Chili's restaurant on Frontage Road northbound, along Interstate 95. The accident occurred at around 7:13 a.m. police say.
Both drivers were among those injured.
According to police, a pedestrian was securing a bicycle to the front of the bus when the bus was struck from behind. The pedestrian was among the many sent to the hospital. The truck pushed the bus about 100 feet up the road, Fire Chief Doug Jackson said.
"It's pretty obvious the truck plowed into the back of the bus," Jackson said.
The general manager of CT Transit, David Lee, said that there were 27 people aboard the bus at the time of the accident. Diosa has been an employee with the company for 12 years, he said.
The bus driver stayed at the scene and appeared to be concerned about the condition of his passengers, Jackson said.
All but one of the 11 patients admitted to Yale-New Haven Hospital were released as of 2 p.m. Monday, according to a hospital spokesperson. Eight were admitted as non-critical, and three were taken in as full-trauma. The one person who remained hospitalized late Monday afternoon was a pregnant female who stayed for observation; she was not among the people admitted in full trauma. Continued...
A message was left for a spokesperson of the Hospital of Saint Raphael, where other patients were taken, but was not immediately returned Monday.
A small fire broke out beneath the cab of the truck more than an hour after accident, Jackson said. Firefighters quickly extinguished it, he said.
American Medical Response set up triage to determine who was most seriously injured and to make sure they were transported first, Jackson said. The New Haven Fire Department also sent an ambulance, he said.
The investigation is ongoing and police are asking any witnesses to contact them at 203-468-3820.
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