Children Checked Out By Medics After Valley Cottage School Bus Accident

Two Upper Nyack Elementary School children complained of minor pain after their school bus was struck from behind by a car on Christian Herald Road in Valley Cottage Tuesday afternoon, according to Clarkstown police.

None of the children had to be taken for hospital treatment, but children on the Vel Coach Inc. vehicle were checked out by members of the Congers-Valley Cottage Ambulance Corps and members of Rockland Paramedics.

The accident took place about 3:45 p.m. on Christian Herald Road at the intersection with Mitchell Drive. Police said the bus was making a stop when it was struck from behind by a 2001 Chevrolet driven by a 17-year-old girl from Valley Cottage.

Police said children on the bus, driven by a 43-year-old Spring Valley resident, were about 5, 6 and 7 years old. Parents of children on the bus were notified about the accident by , police said. Nyack Schools Superintenent James Montesano said the Upper Nyack principal and school nurse went to the scene of the accident and checked on the children.

Montesano said another school bus was sent to pick up the children and continue the after-school drop-off route.

The 17-year-old driver told police she was following the bus with about one car-length of space separating the vehicles and that she could not stop in time when the bus came to a halt. Police said the impact forced the bus forward and the two children who complained of pain said they had abdominal discomfort from the seatbelts they were wearing.

Vel Coach is based in Nanuet.

Clarkstown police said their review of the accident was not yet complete by this morning.