Philadelphia

Man, Woman Die After Crashing Into School Bus on Roosevelt Boulevard: Police

Bus driver counts for blessings for leaving wreck unscathed

A man and a woman died after slamming into a school bus on Roosevelt Boulevard Sunday night.

Ramon Rodriguez-Camacho, 32, was driving a silver 2000 Mercedes Benz northbound on the Boulevard near Woodward Street just before 9 p.m. when he crashed his vehicle into the rear of a school bus that was stopped at a red light, police said. The car went underneath the bus and burst into flames. Witnesses said the impact lifted up the bus and moved it forward.

Witnesses tried to put out the flames with fire extinguishers but were unable to bring the blaze under control. Both Rodriguez-Camacho and his passenger, Lorraine Rivera, 38, died in the crash.

The 41-year-old school bus driver was not injured. Police say the bus driver had dropped around two dozen teenagers from Huntington Valley Christian Academy off a few minutes before the crash and no one else was on board. [[407461226, C]]

"She just dropped them off at a nearby church. She said about three minutes prior to the accident," said Philadelphia Police Chief Inspector Scott Small. "So we're really lucky in that respect."

The driver, who wished not to be identified, felt blessed to escape unscathed.

"I feel happy that my life was saved," she exclusively told NBC10's Monique Braxton. "I feel born again. I am praying for the family of the people who died. Sad news for them. Thanks to God for saving me. Happy that I am alive."

Police continued to investigate the crash Monday and said speed likely played a role. Investigators also spoke with two off-duty police officers who witnessed the crash.

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