Medical Issue Possible Reason Behind Eatontown Bus Driver's Crash

EATONTOWN, NJ – A medical issue may be why a school bus driver from Eatontown hit three cars and drove over a lawn in Lakewood on Wednesday, according to police on Thursday.

The crash occurred near the Central Avenue and Glen Avenue intersection just after 9 a.m. on Wednesday, Lakewood Capt. Gregory Staffordsmith said.

The driver, a 58-year-old Eatontown man, "may have had a medical episode that contributed or may have caused the incident," Staffordsmith said.

No students were injured, according to Staffordsmith, but he did not have an exact count on how many were on board as some had left with their parents before police arrived. He added that two of the three hit cars were occupied, and there were no injuries to those people.

The Lakewood Scoop, which published a video of the crash, reported that students said the driver fell out of his seat before the crash. The video shows the bus driving across a lawn and hitting two cars before coming to a stop.

According to Staffordsmith, officer William Allen learned the bus was going east on Central Avenue when it crossed over a double yellow line and hit an oncoming Toyota Camry.

After hitting the Camry, the bus continued northeast across the lawn of 179 Glen Avenue, then hit a Toyota Avalon that was traveling south on Glen Avenue. The bus finally came to a stop after hitting a second Toyota Camry parked facing north on Glen Avenue.

Staffordsmith said the investigation is ongoing, and anyone with information or who may have witnessed the crash is urged to contact the Lakewood Police Department at 732-363-0200.