A sports utility vehicle rammed a bus as students boarded this morning.
The bus carrying students from Old State Elementary School was stopped along the side of southbound Dupont Parkway (U.S. Route 13) at Eaton Drive in Townsend, Del. picking up students just before 8 a.m. when a Volvo SUV rear-ended the bus, according to state police.
Witnesses told NBC10's Tim Furlong that kids were on the steps of the bus, which had its lights flashing, when the Volvo without braking crashed into it causing major damage to the SUV.
The driver of the Volvo as well as five students from the Appoquinimink School District No. 90 bus required treatment at area hospitals, according to a statement posted to the school's website.
None of the students’ injuries appeared life threatening. No word yet on the condition of the SUV driver.
The area around Route 13 was closed while police investigated a cause in the crash. NBC10 traffic reporter Jillian Mele said the roadway was closed from Blackbird Forest Road to Black Diamond Road. Route 1 could be used as an alternate route.
Townsend is located about 25 miles south of Wilmington.
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In its statement, the school said the injured students should "be home in time for bed tonight:"
"We commend our students and bus driver for their composure and wish to extend our gratitude for the first responders who quickly arrived on the scene to assist us this morning."
