Darkness, roads contribute to accidents with buses

WASILLA — It’s an occurrence almost too common this time of year — school buses rear-ended in traffic.

Last week, two such wrecks were reported in Wasilla. Both rear-end accidents were not the bus drivers’ fault.

The first happened close to 2:30 p.m. Monday at Tait Road and Tambert Drive. Megan Vincent, 35, of Wasilla, driving a 1997 Lexus LX450, slid into the back of the school bus as it slowed down driving around a curve. The bus had 19 students on board. Vincent had her two children with her. No one was hurt.

The second was Wednesday, again at around 2:30 p.m., this time on Knik-Goose Bay Road and Irwin Drive. In that collision, Oman N. Wilcox, 58, of Wasilla, was at fault, even though he didn’t hit the bus. According to Alaska State Troopers, he rear-ended a Chevrolet Silverado with his Ford Ranger, pushing the Silverado into the bus. There were no injuries in that case, either. Wilcox was cited for not exercising due care.

No one was available to answer questions at First Student when calls were made Friday.

Wasilla Deputy Police Chief Greg Wood said that where bus wrecks are concerned, so far this year is looking a little better than last year, when about a half dozen buses got hit. And his department, he said, has been fortunate not to have very many in its coverage area either this year or last.

“We get our share of bus traffic here, we just haven’t had the accidents,” he said.

But still, he said, it’s not hard to think of likely contributing factors in these kinds of incidents.

“School is during the winter and otherwise we don’t have that many buses running around in the summer, except tour buses and they don’t stop very often,” he said. “We’re in the worst of our road conditions this time of year and it’s at a time when all of our school buses are out and traveling.”

Michael Keenan, Assistant Chief of the Central Mat-Su Fire Department has responded to his share of bus collisions. He was at the Wednesday’s crash on Knik-Goose Bay Road. He said the majority of accidents involve other motorists rear-ending the buses.

“The last two that I went on were very minor impacts so they weren’t that complicated,” he said. “In the past we have had some very significant ones.”

Buses are large vehicles made with lots of iron. Passenger cars don’t really stand much of a chance in that kind of crash.

As for contributing factors; Keenan agreed with Wood and added two more: Buses pick children up when it’s dark and, with days as short as they are in the winter, often drop them off at sundown.

“The one we had on KGB the other day, the sun was just right at the level that it was right in everybody’s eyes,” he said. “I don’t know if that contributed to (the crash) but I noticed it as I pulled in.”

Keenan said he’d caution drivers to just be more aware during that time of day. High schools and middle schools let out at 2 p.m., elementary schools at 3:30 p.m.

“Those are good times to just recognize that the school buses are on the road,” he said. “Just be aware and be cognizant of your surroundings and make sure that you’re paying attention.”

Contact Andrew Wellner at andrew.wellner@frontiersman.com or 352-2270.