Pennsylvania

No Charges for Teen Driver Day After School Bus Stop Crash That Left Bucks County Girl Dead

A day after police said a teen driving a sport utility vehicle struck and killed a Bucks County high schooler trying to catch her school bus during a “tragic accident,” police focused on the 18-year-old driver and his vehicle.

Bensalem Police and the Bucks County District Attorney’s office returned to Bensalem Boulevard to investigate Wednesday’s predawn crash in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania that claimed the life of Bensalem High School sophomore Minete Zeka.

"This child, it does not appear, was doing anything wrong,” said Bensalem Police public safety director Fred Harran. “She was just crossing the street.”

The teen was driving toward the bus when he struck 16-year-old Minete, who was walking in the crosswalk near Bridgewater Street, said police.

“She assumed that people would stop,” said Harran. “And that's what good drivers do — they stop and obey the rules. This guy, tor whatever reason, did not."

The 18-year-old vo-tech student, driving a 1984 Ford Bronco painted in white and blue camouflage and with lights on top, had a green light at the time. However, the school bus’ flashing lights and stop sign arm should have caused the teen driver to stop.

NBC10 didn’t identify the driver since, as of Thursday afternoon, he wasn’t charged with any crime.

Accident investigators used a computer program Thursday to reconstruct the accident scene. Police also looked into the condition of the teen driver’s SUV and into what he was doing at the time of impact.

"We're looking at the vehicle, checking to see if there was any mechanical malfunctions," said Harran.

Harran also said investigators were waiting for results from a blood test on the driver. they also examined if he was texting while driving.

"It does not appear that that was an issue at this point,” said Harran. “But we're gonna check into that to make sure that he wasn't texting or on the phone or anything else that could've caused, and led to, this tragic accident."

As police investigated the crash, Minete’s classmates from Bensalem High School went to the scene of the deadly crash and returned to school Thursday mourning her loss.

Counselors, social workers and additional mental health professionals were brought into the high school and made available for all students. They'll remain at the school for the rest of the week.

"A sudden loss like this can have an effect on all our students," said superintendent David Baugh in an afternoon news conference. "For that reason, we hope that you will talk with your children. Listen to your sons or daughters as well as discuss with them their feelings and reactions to this tragedy."

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